url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=3DF04EBC-8E9A-48DA-95E1-63CE1C8FD653,Weekly Column: Keeping Resolutions,2014-12-31,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Making New Year’s resolutions seems to be as much of a tradition as breaking New Year’s resolutions.  We commit ourselves to getting in shape or quitting bad habits, but by January 5, many have already strayed.  We blame it on self-discipline or holiday leftovers, but research suggests it has more to do with how we go about setting goals.
Studies show we’re more likely to achieve our resolutions if we set specific goals, such as “I will lose five pounds by March 1.”  And once those goals are set, we ought to tell someone so we don’t go it alone.  With this approach to goal setting in mind, I sat down and put together a list of specific and public resolutions that will move us toward the larger goal of reigniting the promise of opportunity in America. 
First, I will work to update and simplify the tax code, which hasn’t been done since gas cost less than 90 cents a gallon.  Over the last 25-plus years, special interest groups have manipulated the tax code time and again, carving out so many loopholes that we now have a 73,954-page-long tax code.  As a friend of mine says, that’s 10 times longer than the Bible with none of the Good News! 
I want to strip out those loopholes, protect folks from an abusive IRS, and lower the tax rate for hardworking Americans, and I’m optimistic there’s positive momentum behind such changes.  We won’t likely rewrite our entire tax code in a single year, but we must make progress toward creating something that’s simpler and fairer.
Second, I want to open new markets for trade between South Dakota and the world.  The United States is currently in negotiations with 11 nations to create a Trans-Pacific Partnership and with the European Union to create the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.  South Dakota already exports around $1 billion annually to markets involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and $125 million to the European Union, but there is room to grow if we can level the playing field for U.S. exporters.  Both the President and Congressional leadership are optimistic this is an area where we can put partisanship aside, find common ground and make progress on these negotiations.
Finally, I want to target government agencies and programs that inhibit our liberties and lives.   One of the most significant impediments to our individual liberties today is the Affordable Care Act.  While I would like to see the legislation fully repealed, there is little-to-no hope that President Obama will sign legislation doing so and there isn’t enough support from Democrats in Congress to override the certain veto.  Nonetheless, I’ll do all I can to weaken the law and give relief to those most impacted until we can get the support needed for a full repeal.  Already, we’ve reduced the law’s funding and repealed the onerous 1099 requirements.  This year, I’m hopeful we’ll also be able to repeal the law’s medical device tax and further limit its Independent Payment Advisory Board, a panel of 15 unelected bureaucrats who are charged with making decisions that could limit Medicare recipients’ access to coverage.
Onerous federal regulations and roadblocks have also made energy more expensive than it has to be.  I fully expect that one of the first votes I’ll take in the new Congress will be to move forward on the Keystone XL Pipeline – a pipeline that would create jobs and generate over $20 million in property taxes in South Dakota.  I’ll also be looking to rein in unnecessary EPA regulations, which could help make energy more affordable for South Dakotans.
I know I’ve outlined a very aggressive agenda.  Some of these items can be settled in the next 12 months.  Others, like simplifying the tax code and expanding trade, may take longer if we want to do it right, but this is the year to get started on these larger goals as well.  I am optimistic though and I believe we have a new Congress that is prepared to govern and ready to take the tough votes that are necessary to restore the American Dream.  I for one can’t wait to tackle all that 2015 has in store.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b5ffd728-927f-436d-b452-bab232c67a24,Thune Announces Staff Changes,2014-12-23,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and likely incoming chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today announced several staff changes on his Washington-based team. Should Thune be elected Commerce Committee chairman in January, he will be the first senator in 30 years to hold a third-ranking leadership office or higher, while also holding a chairmanship of an “A” committee.
Brendon Plack, Thune’s deputy chief of staff, has been named staff director of the Senate Republican Conference. Plack will also continue to oversee operations in Thune’s DC-based personal office. Plack, a South Dakota native, has served on Thune’s team in various capacities for the past 10 years, including Thune’s legislative director, policy director for the Senate Republican Conference, and energy analyst at the Senate Republican Policy Committee.
“Brendon is an experienced leader in the United States Senate,” said Thune. “With ties to South Dakota and a deep policy background, I am pleased he will be running my leadership office while continuing to oversee day-to-day operations in my D.C. personal office.”
Ann Marie Hauser has been named deputy staff director of the Senate Republican Conference. Most recently, Hauser handled public affairs strategy for the financial regulatory consulting firm Patomak Global Partners. Prior to that, she served as managing vice president at JDA Frontline; communications director for Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s presidential bid; vice president of corporate communications at JPMorgan Chase; communications director for Senator Mike Johanns (R-N.E.); and director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce and spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Treasury in the George W. Bush administration.
“I’m pleased to welcome Ann Marie to my team,” said Thune. “Ann Marie brings a valuable perspective as someone who has served in senior positions in government, campaigns, and the private sector. Her wealth of experience will help strengthen member services provided by the Senate Republican Conference and ensure my offices coordinate seamlessly as Republicans in the Senate work advance pro-growth policies.”
AshLee Strong, Thune’s national communications director, has been promoted to senior communications director. She will continue to serve as Thune’s chief spokesperson and will coordinate Thune’s national message in his leadership office and across his committee assignments. Previously, Strong served as press secretary for Thune; press secretary for Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.); communications aide for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; and an aide at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the George W. Bush administration.
“AshLee is one of my most trusted advisers and played a critical role in crafting a communications strategy that helped Republicans in the Senate make our case to the American people,” said Thune. “As she takes on this expanded role, I will continue to rely on her insights as we articulate Senate Republicans’ policies and vision in the next Congress.”
Frederick Hill has been named Thune’s communications director for the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Hill most recently served as deputy staff director for communications to Chairman Darrell Issa (R-C.A.) on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Hill has worked for Issa for the past 13 years.
“Frederick’s many years of communications experience on one of the most active committees in the House of Representatives will make him a valuable member of my Commerce team. I look forward to utilizing Frederick’s communications ability as I roll out my agenda for the Commerce Committee in the 114th Congress.”
In addition, Rachel Millard will continue to serve as Thune’s communications director for state press. Millard, a native of Chamberlain, South Dakota, and graduate of Creighton University, has served on Thune’s personal staff for over five years and previously served as press secretary for Thune, internal communications adviser at the Senate Republican Conference, and legislative correspondent for Thune.
“Serving the people of South Dakota is and always will be my primary focus, and Rachel’s role will only grow in importance in the new Congress as our legislative goals and accomplishments are communicated to all South Dakotans,” said Thune.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=081231F1-31E5-4A62-A1A9-C0A4CC12A5B3,Weekly Column: Joy of Giving,2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"I am the epitome of your last-minute shopper.  Bryon and I usually know what we’re getting the kids weeks in advance.  But between going to school Christmas programs, decorating the house, addressing Christmas cards, and finishing up legislative work for the year, the purchases are typically made just in time to get the gifts wrapped.  As parents know though, the joy of watching your kids (no matter how old they are) tear open those gifts on Christmas morning makes all the stresses of shopping worth it.  It’s perhaps the best reminder we have of the age-old adage:  It is better to give than to receive. 
For many in South Dakota, the joy of giving is shared not only during this season, but throughout the year.  In fact, 35 percent of South Dakotans spent time volunteering in 2013, according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Services that was released last week.  When you add it all up, we spent 21.5 million hours serving others that year and what a powerful message that sends.
Of course, only a small portion of South Dakota’s sense of giving can even be quantified by the hours we spend volunteering.  I am still struck by the viral video of Carol Flynn purchasing diapers for the young mother ahead of her in line at Wal-Mart.  And the story of the young girl from Mitchell who donated some of her toys to the kids in Wessington Springs after a tornado swept away all they knew.  And the nine-year-old girl who heard that Rainbow Bible Camp near Sturgis had lost 90 horses in Winter Strom Atlas and sent the camp $28.39 – mostly in coins – to help them recover.  She said in her letter to them, “I thought you might need this.  I’ll try to get more.  Every bit counts.”
These actions by individuals are only enhanced by the generosity of the many, many organizations in South Dakota dedicated to serving their community.
This year, the Toy Industry Foundation donated 500 toys to three of these generous local charities – the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Sioux Falls, the Children’s Home Society in Sioux Falls, and the Northeast South Dakota Head Start Program in Aberdeen – after I was named a “Champion of Play” for my work in Congress.  The donation enables children who are victims of abuse, suffering from illnesses, or living in poverty to give and to receive.  It shows them that there is a community surrounding them that wants them to succeed – that wants them to find joy.  Truly, a special gift.
This holiday season, it is my hope that you experience the incredible joy of giving.  From my family to yours, merry Christmas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=231612d7-219f-46d9-bf63-eaed02400eb2,A Christmas Frame of Mind,2014-12-19,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		In the Christmas movie classic “Miracle on 34th Street,” Kris Kringle wisely says, “Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it is a frame of mind...” The Christmas season is truly a frame of mind; it’s a time of memories, tradition, and generosity shared with family and friends. From picking out the Christmas tree, to baking for the neighbors, nearly every family has their own customs and traditions to help them get in the spirit around the holidays.
Like many South Dakotans, several of my memories are tied to the smells and tastes of the holidays. Growing up, my family would pile in the car to head to my grandmother’s house for Christmas Eve where she would serve her Norwegian specialty, lutefisk and leftsa, before heading to Okaton for the annual Christmas Eve service. Over time, our family moved away from the lutefisk, and opted for oyster stew or clam chowder for our traditional Christmas Eve meal. While the foods may change, the heart of the Norwegian tradition remains the same. I still can’t smell leftsa without thinking of Christmas Eve spent with family at my grandmother’s home.
For many students, the much-anticipated Christmas break provides free time to enjoy the South Dakota winter weather. Growing up, you could catch me sledding down Jackson Ave in Murdo, ice skating with neighbors and friends, and even caroling with the youth group. For some, a trip to Pierre to look at the Christmas trees in the state capitol decorated by businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government offices is an annual tradition. Others enjoy the nativities and Christmas pageants that local churches and community groups host each year.
Perhaps nothing gets us in the “frame of mind” for Christmas more than celebrating the season of giving by remembering those who are less fortunate. I am always amazed by the generosity of South Dakotans, and I know that in difficult times those in need can count on others for support during the holidays.
While most of us will continue celebrating our traditions with family and friends, let us pause to remember those families who have loved ones serving in the military around the globe who will be apart this Christmas. The strength of family members who celebrate traditions while praying for the safety of loved ones in harm’s way reminds us all of how fortunate we are to be together this time of year.
Whatever your family tradition, I hope the spirit of Christmas and the reason for the season fill you and your families with joy this holiday season. Kimberley and I wish all South Dakotans safe travels, Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=eef55c76-6837-4754-8701-b5dabd5a7dca,Thune Comments on 2014 Tax Extenders,2014-12-16,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today commented on the passage of legislation to extend a host of expired tax measures, several of which are important to South Dakota:
“While I’m disappointed the president stymied the bipartisan good-faith negotiations to make a number of important tax provisions permanent, I’m pleased the Senate acted to ensure individuals and businesses can utilize these tax deductions and incentives on their 2014 taxes. From the deduction for state and local sales taxes, to the higher business deduction limits relied upon by small businesses, extending these expired tax provisions is important to South Dakota families and businesses.”
Earlier this month, Congress came very close to a bipartisan deal to make permanent a number of tax relief measures for individuals and businesses that have recently expired. The proposed deal was supported by Senate leadership of both parties as well as House Republicans, but fell apart when the president issued a veto threat in the midst of negotiations, effectively killing the chances this year for permanent tax relief.
Thune believes that South Dakotans deserve permanent tax relief and a predictable and stable tax system, and he intends to keep working toward this goal in the next Congress. He supported the one-year tax extender package as a stopgap measure in order to prevent a tax hike on millions of Americans. The following provisions, which expired at the end of 2013, were extended for one year through December 31, 2014:
 
State and Local Sales Tax Deduction: The tax deal extends the local and state sales tax deduction. South Dakota is one of only seven states without an income tax, and South Dakota taxpayers deserve the same treatment as taxpayers in states with an income tax, where the deduction for state income taxes is a permanent part of our tax code.
 
 
Small Business Expensing: The tax deal extends the Section 179 $500,000 small business expensing limit, which is critical for small business owners and family farmers as they plan future investments. If this provision had not been extended, the limit would have dropped to $25,000.
 
 
Charitable Giving: The tax deal extends three charitable tax incentives to encourage private acts of charity and compassion. The measure included provisions to: allow individuals 70 and a half years of age and older to donate up to $100,000 of their individual retirement accounts to charity without incurring a tax penalty; the enhanced deduction for food donations, which encourages businesses to donate food to food pantries and other organizations that serve the hungry; and the tax rules that make it easier for farmers and other landowners to donate land for conservation purposes, helping preserve America's natural habitat. 
ABLE Act: The tax deal included the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, of which Thune is a cosponsor. The provision will allow individuals with disabilities to create tax-preferred personal savings accounts while ensuring they maintain eligibility for important federal programs that assist with day-to-day needs. Creation of these accounts, which are similar to 529 college savings plans, will help individuals with disabilities attain financial independence and plan for the future",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=0215A609-A53E-4CAD-A0D0-A67FB51B9337,Delegation to Streamline and Improve Impact Aid in NDAA,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senators John Thune and Tim Johnson and Representative Kristi Noem announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 includes a provision to extend the simplified payment calculation process for federally impacted schools for three years, resulting in timelier payments to school districts.
“School districts need certainty from the federal government about what to budget for annual Impact Aid revenues,” said Thune. “Due to complicated payment formulas, Impact Aid districts in South Dakota have suffered from persistently late distribution of these funds, placing an unfair burden on school districts to cover the shortfall. I am pleased that Congress acted to extend the simplified payment calculation formulas to accelerate Impact Aid payments and hope the next Congress will act on my legislation to reauthorize the entire Impact Aid program and make these changes permanent.”
""This legislation will improve funding certainty for schools across South Dakota,” said Johnson. “The provisions we pushed for will reduce administrative burdens and expedite payments to school districts that have a federal presence in their district. This was the product of extensive bipartisan collaboration and will greatly benefit school districts in our states.”
“Our children deserve a quality education, but delayed payments from the federal government have put undue burdens on South Dakota’s Impact Aid schools in the past,” said Noem. “Our schools that have federal lands in their district deserve more certainty when it comes to the money they’re due from the federal government. I was pleased to have this provision included in the initial House-passed version of the bill as well as the final legislation so we can get this funding into our school systems more quickly.”
Impact Aid school districts receive compensation from the federal government for local taxes lost due to federal land within their school districts, such as military bases, Indian reservations, or federal grasslands. In recent years, districts have experienced a delay in receiving timely payments, which puts additional financial burdens on already cash-strapped school districts.
In 2012, the delegation worked together to enact a provision in the FY 2013 NDAA to end the highly subjective “highest and best” formula. The “highest and best” formula attempted to determine the “real value” of federal property, which created a highly inefficient payment formula that was subject to local interpretation by assessors on the value of taxable property adjacent to eligible federal property. The provision included in the FY 2015 NDAA extends the use of the simpler formula that removes the subjectivity from the process. It also prevents the U.S. Department of Education from having to conduct regular, lengthy, resource-intensive audits of a school district’s Impact Aid application. Historically, these audits have resulted in delayed payments to every eligible district.
In June of 2013, Thune introduced the Local Taxpayer Relief Act (S. 1108) in the Senate along with Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tim Johnson to make these changes permanent. Representative Noem introduced and passed companion legislation in the House of Representatives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=1c8f3d1c-41a0-4861-997a-8c3007b414c6,Thune Announces Committee Assignments for 114th Congress,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today released the following statement after receiving his committee assignments for the 114th session of Congress (2015-2016). Thune was selected to continue serving on the following committees: Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Finance. Members of these committees will vote in early January to select committee chairs, and the full Republican conference will ratify those selections. Thune was previously named ranking member, or the senior most Republican, of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for the 113th Congress. Thune will continue to serve in Republican leadership as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
“Continuing to serve South Dakota in the United States Senate is the highest privilege in public service afforded to me,” said Thune. “Over the past 10 years I have worked diligently to be a strong voice for South Dakota and to represent the values and interests of our state and its residents both through my committee assignments and on the Senate floor. As a member of the Agriculture, Commerce, and Finance Committees, I will be able to help the new Republican majority advance solutions for American families on a variety of issues that are important to South Dakota, from agriculture to rural telecom and transportation reforms to tax and trade policy.”
Thune Committee Assignments for 114th Congress:
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry   
The Senate Agriculture Committee oversees matters relating to: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) activities including farm payments, crop insurance, conservation programs, and livestock marketing rules; the Rural Utilities Service and Rural Development, which carry out important programs relating to rural energy development, rural business financing, and rural health care services; nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program, the Women, Infants and Children program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps); and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees all futures markets.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has wide jurisdiction with matters relating to: the U.S. Department of Transportation with respect to highway safety, commercial motor carriers, railroads, buses, vessels, pipelines, inland waterways, and civil and commercial aviation; the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding weather and atmospheric activities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, marine fisheries and navigation, science and technology research and development; telecommunications policy and the Internet; U.S. Coast Guard and Merchant Marine, National Aeronautics and Space Administration regarding nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences; regulation of consumer products via the Consumer Product Safety Commission; the Federal Trade Commission; and sports.
Committee on Finance 
The Senate Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection districts and ports of entry and delivery; reciprocal trade agreements; tariff and import quotas; the transportation of dutiable goods; deposit of public moneys; general revenue sharing; health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and Social Security.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d124b855-5471-4106-8281-9590cb5aa025,Thune Welcomes Commerce Committee Members for the 114th Congress,2014-12-15,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today welcomed new and returning Republican members to the committee:
“In the 114th Congress, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will work to advance solutions that help create jobs, grow the economy, and improve Americans’ daily lives, and I’m fortunate to be joined in this endeavor by a strong group of Republican members. From transportation and Internet policy to consumer protection and more, we have much work ahead of us, but I know Republicans on the Commerce Committee are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has wide jurisdiction over matters relating to the U.S. Department of Transportation with respect to highway safety, commercial motor carriers, railroads, buses, vessels, pipelines, inland waterways, and civil and commercial aviation; the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding weather and atmospheric activities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, marine fisheries and navigation, science and technology research and development; telecommunications policy and the Internet; U.S. Coast Guard and Merchant Marine; National Aeronautics and Space Administration regarding nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences; regulation of consumer products via the Consumer Product Safety Commission; the Federal Trade Commission; and sports.
With Republican and Democrat senators now named to the Commerce Committee, the subcommittee selection process will begin, enabling the committee to be formalized as early as the first full week of January, after the 114th Congress convenes.
Below is the full list of Republican members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee:
 
John Thune, South Dakota
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
Roy Blunt, Missouri
Marco Rubio, Florida
Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire
Dean Heller, Nevada
Ted Cruz, Texas
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Dan Sullivan, Alaska
Jerry Moran, Kansas
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin
Cory Gardner, Colorado
Steve Daines, Montana
Last week, the following Democrat senators were named to the Commerce Committee:
Bill Nelson, Florida
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Claire McCaskill, Missouri
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
Brian Schatz, Hawaii
Ed Markey, Massachusetts
Cory Booker, New Jersey
Tom Udall, New Mexico
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Gary Peters, Michigan
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9792f80f-4960-4582-b20a-33df0380a3b9,Thune Comments on Senate Passage of FY 2015 Funding Bill,2014-12-13,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today commented on the passage of the omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 and applauded the inclusion of a number of important South Dakota provisions:
“I’m pleased the annual funding bill included a number of provisions important to South Dakota,” said Thune. “Two of these provisions continue the development of key state facilities, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System and the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Several other provisions rein in burdensome regulations proposed by the Obama administration that would harm farmers, ranchers, hunters, and anglers in South Dakota. While imperfect, this legislation advances several South Dakota priorities that I look forward to continuing to work on in the 114th Congress.”
1) EPA Regulation of Ammunition and Fishing Tackle: The FY 2015 funding bill includes an important provision championed by Thune preventing the Obama EPA from regulating lead in ammunition and fishing tackle for one year. Thune introduced the Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act in the Senate with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) in September of 2013. The standalone legislation would permanently exclude ammunition and fishing tackle from regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving the oversight to the relevant state agencies, which currently regulate ammunition and fishing tackle.
2) Sage-Grouse Endangered Species Listing: The FY 2015 funding bill prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from listing the sage-grouse on the endangered species list for at least the remainder of FY 2015. In 2011, the FWS reached a secret sue-and-settle agreement to require listing determinations on more than 250 species across the United States, including the sage-grouse. The sage-grouse listing would impact ranching, energy development, and other land uses in parts of western South Dakota, so securing this provision was an important win for West River ranchers in our state.
3) EPA Regulation of Methane Emissions: The FY 2015 funding bill delays the EPA regulation of livestock methane emissions under the Clean Air Act, which could require farmers and ranchers to purchase expensive greenhouse gas permits. Thune has championed provisions in previous funding bills prohibiting the EPA from creating a livestock emissions permitting system for one year at a time. While this is an important short-term success, a permanent ban is necessary to protect South Dakota producers.
4) Lewis and Clark Regional Water System: The FY 2015 funding bill includes $2.4 million specifically for Lewis and Clark and an additional $31 million for ongoing rural water projects which will be allocated by the Bureau of Reclamation. The Lewis and Clark Regional Water System will provide safe, reliable drinking water to over 300,000 individuals in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota once completed.
5) Sanford Underground Research Lab: The FY 2015 funding bill includes $15 million to continue research in the underground lab and $23 million to support superconducting radio frequency accelerator research, development, facilities, and infrastructure.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D9CCEE99-9A9F-4014-AD04-78EACF4912C9,Representative Expects Tax Measure To Pass Senate,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Senate is expected to pass the tax extenders legislation prior to the end of the lame duck session before the Holiday recess. South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem says the House earlier approved a one year extension and she expects the Senate to take it up either today or next week. Noem says while negotiations on a longer version of the tax extenders legislation were going on President Obama scuttled it by threatening to veto the bill even before it was decided. Noem says there are several parts of the extenders package important for agriculture, most notably the section 179 deduction as well as tax credits for biodiesel and wind energy. 
Listen to this story at http://wnax.com/news/180081-representative-expects-tax-measure-to-pass-senate/#sthash.B2syGmxh.dpuf",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=38089DF8-382F-4C63-9683-1278368DADBA,Weekly Column: A Look Back,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"I almost can’t believe how fast 2014 has gone.  My son Booker is about three inches taller while his Christmas list is about half as long (although somehow twice as expensive!)  As we look to wrap up the year, I wanted to share with you some of the successes I’ve had in Congress during the last twelve months.
The year kicked off with passage of the long-awaited Farm Bill.  I was honored to serve as the first House Member at the Farm Bill negotiating table in nearly two decades and even more thrilled to get so many provisions in place for South Dakota producers and consumers.  Among other items, we got a strong crop insurance program, revived the livestock indemnity program, and built support for pine beetle mitigation efforts.
A few months later, the House passed a provision I wrote that would allocate a total of $31 million to a rural water project fund that the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is eligible to draw from.  Our communities have put in more than their share of the funding for Lewis and Clark, but the federal government has not kept their end of the deal.  This provision moves us in the right direction and I was glad to see it included in the final funding bill.
In July, the Black Hills Cemetery Act, a bill I wrote after many conversations with West River communities, was signed into law.  To reduce liabilities for taxpayers and honor those who have been caring for these nine historic Black Hills cemeteries for generations, this legislation returns the cemeteries’ ownership to the generous communities who maintain them.
Later that month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed another piece of legislation I wrote.  This one addressed human trafficking and would have opened an existing Department of Justice grant program to shelters that are looking to house survivors of human trafficking.  With only around 200 beds available to underage human trafficking survivors nationwide, it was a need I spoke with many South Dakota groups about.  I was disappointed the Senate did not take up the bill, but I’ll continue the fight in the years to come.
In August, I was proud to welcome the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs (VA) Committee to Hot Springs to hold a congressional hearing.  I’ve visited the VA hospital in Hot Springs many times and have always been impressed by their commitment to our veterans, but the impassioned showing at that congressional hearing blew me away.  It earned them the support of the House VA Committee, which is critical.  Through an end-of-the-year funding agreement, we were able to restrict any FY2015 funds from being used to move forward on closing the facility.
Earlier this month, the House passed the ABLE Act, which would allow those with disabilities or their families to open tax-free savings accounts – similar to the 529 investment plans many people use to save for their kids’ college.  The funds in these tax-free accounts could be used for medical expenses, housing, transportation, and higher-education.  As a co-sponsor of this bill, I always knew how important it was to extend this benefit to families, but it really hit me when I received a Facebook message from a father in southeastern South Dakota just hours before the vote.  He wrote that the bill would help his family “save for a brighter tomorrow for our son.”  The impact of this bill is real and will open new doors for many families like this.
On these issues and many others, I relied on your voice and am so grateful for those who have called, written, or emailed me with their thoughts.  I also believe it is my responsibility to keep you informed on what I’m doing, as I am ultimately accountable to you.  As a result, my office has made more than 150,000 phone calls to South Dakotans this year and written 104,000 letters and emails. 
Perhaps our most important accomplishments, however, are found in the hundreds of South Dakotans we’ve helped receive veterans benefits, navigate Social Security, adopt a child, or guide through countless other federal bureaucratic processes.  It’s truly been an honor to serve you this year and I am looking forward to tackling new challenges in the year to come.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=78a07ded-8270-445a-a8d4-0b3005fd02a9,Tax Uncertainty a Raw Deal for South Dakotans,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		With a new year upon us, small businesses and families will soon begin reviewing their finances in anticipation of filing their 2014 taxes. The federal tax code is a maze of complicated provisions made worse by the uncertainty businesses and individuals face as they wait for Congress to act each year on a host of tax measures. From the deduction for state and local sales taxes used by those who itemize, to the higher business deduction limits relied upon by small businesses, temporary tax relief does not provide the certainty individuals and businesses need to make long-term planning decisions. Instead, South Dakotans find themselves expending time and money complying with a tax code that would be better spent on new business investments or in their local community.
Earlier this month, Congress came very close to a bipartisan deal to make permanent a number of tax relief measures for individuals and businesses that have recently expired. This proposed deal was supported by Senate leadership of both parties as well as House Republicans, but unfortunately President Obama and a few of his liberal allies in Congress decided to scuttle the deal before it was finalized. Rather than work with Congress to make tax relief permanent for families and businesses, the president chose to issue a veto threat while good-faith negotiations were still under way, effectively killing the chances for a deal.
The administration’s actions are especially disappointing because the bipartisan deal included a provision to finally make permanent the deduction for state and local sales taxes that expired at the end of 2013. South Dakota is one of only seven states without an income tax, and South Dakota taxpayers deserve the same treatment as taxpayers in states with an income tax, where the deduction for state income taxes is a permanent part of our tax code. The proposed deal also would have made permanent the $500,000 small business expensing limit that expired at the end of 2013, which is critical for small business owners and family farmers as they plan future investments. Additionally, the deal would have made permanent measures that promote charitable giving, such as allowing individuals above the age of 70 and a half to give Individual Retirement Account savings to charities without incurring a tax hit.
The president’s ill-advised veto threat demonstrates how difficult it has been to work with this administration on common-sense tax relief measures to give individuals, including small business owners, the certainty they need to make investment decisions to help grow our economy. Unfortunately, rather than enacting permanent relief for individuals and small businesses, Congress did the bare minimum – a one-year extension of expired tax relief, once again kicking the can to the next year for Congress to take up yet again. South Dakota taxpayers deserve much better than this. They deserve permanent tax relief that they can rely upon and a tax code that treats them fairly.   
I intend to do whatever I can next Congress to make comprehensive tax reform a reality. I hope that next time the president will choose to work with us.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3effe701-3a3b-4f22-9b26-120a58eb0882,Delegation Advances Provision to Streamline and Improve Impact Aid in NDAA,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Tim Johnson (D- South Dakota) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) today announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 includes a provision to extend the simplified payment calculation process for federally impacted schools for three years, resulting in timelier payments to school districts.
“School districts need certainty from the federal government about what to budget for annual Impact Aid revenues,” said Thune. “Due to complicated payment formulas, Impact Aid districts in South Dakota have suffered from persistently late distribution of these funds, placing an unfair burden on school districts to cover the shortfall. I am pleased that Congress acted to extend the simplified payment calculation formulas to accelerate Impact Aid payments and hope the next Congress will act on my legislation to reauthorize the entire Impact Aid program and make these changes permanent.”
""This legislation will improve funding certainty for schools across South Dakota,” said Johnson. “The provisions we pushed for will reduce administrative burdens and expedite payments to school districts that have a federal presence in their district. This was the product of extensive bipartisan collaboration and will greatly benefit school districts in our states.”
“Our children deserve a quality education, but delayed payments from the federal government have put undue burdens on South Dakota’s Impact Aid schools in the past,” said Noem. “Our schools that have federal lands in their district deserve more certainty when it comes to the money they’re due from the federal government. I was pleased to have this provision included in the initial House-passed version of the bill as well as the final legislation so we can get this funding into our school systems more quickly.”
Impact Aid school districts receive compensation from the federal government for local taxes lost due to federal land within their school districts, such as military bases, Indian reservations, or federal grasslands. In recent years, districts have experienced a delay in receiving timely payments, which puts additional financial burdens on already cash-strapped school districts.
In 2012, the delegation worked together to enact a provision in the FY 2013 NDAA to end the highly subjective “highest and best” formula. The “highest and best” formula attempted to determine the “real value” of federal property, which created a highly inefficient payment formula that was subject to local interpretation by assessors on the value of taxable property adjacent to eligible federal property. The provision included in the FY 2015 NDAA extends the use of the simpler formula that removes the subjectivity from the process. It also prevents the U.S. Department of Education from having to conduct regular, lengthy, resource-intensive audits of a school district’s Impact Aid application. Historically, these audits have resulted in delayed payments to every eligible district.
In June of 2013, Thune introduced the Local Taxpayer Relief Act (S. 1108) in the Senate along with Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tim Johnson to make these changes permanent. Representative Noem introduced and passed companion legislation in the House of Representatives.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d9b25d4e-3caa-49b2-85ac-2bf15036c4f0,ROCKEFELLER AND THUNE CALL ON THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN ANTI-DOPING REAUTHORIZATION BILL INTO LAW,2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and John Thune (R-SD), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today issued the following joint statement on the passage of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Reauthorization Act:
“We are pleased to see that the United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act is heading to the president’s desk. This bill will ensure that USADA has the resources it needs to protect clean competition in the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Between the passage of the USADA Reauthorization Act and separate legislation to crack down on anabolic steroids, today may be the single-most productive day in the history of the Senate on anti-doping accomplishments.”
USADA is a not-for-profit, non-governmental agency that is recognized by Congress as the national anti-doping organization for the Olympics in the United States. USADA was first authorized in 2006 and the authorization expired in fiscal year 2010. The United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act (S. 2338) would authorize funding for the agency through fiscal year 2020. 
Among other provisions, the bill will allow the agency to expand and modernize its drug testing efforts. In so doing, the bill would update the agency’s role in preventing all forms of performance enhancing methods, such as gene-doping and blood manipulation, in addition to banned substances. 
The Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has general jurisdiction over sports, including amateur sports and the professional leagues.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f78799f9-1955-4898-8242-b94743fc8623,"ROCKEFELLER, THUNE STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF COMMERCE CYBERSECURITY BILL",2014-12-12,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) today applauded the passage of their bipartisan cyber legislation that will help strengthen and protect the nation’s economic and national security. The passage of the Rockefeller-Thune bill last night follows years of work to reach a bipartisan consensus on cybersecurity legislation.
“For years, I have said that cyber attacks pose one of the gravest threats to our national and economic security. Now, with the passage of the Commerce Committee’s cybersecurity legislation, protecting our information networks is a top priority for the federal government,” Rockefeller said. “NIST and our research agencies will have a leading role in this effort, and the authority to work closely with the private sector to identify and reduce cyber risks. I’m grateful for Ranking Member Thune’s hard work on this legislation and his dedication to making cybersecurity a top priority.”
“This bill will ensure a voluntary partnership between the government and private sector to protect the computer systems Americans rely on every day,” said Thune. “It will also focus efforts to find longer-term solutions to cyber threats through research, education and workforce development. There is much work still to be done to safeguard cyberspace so I look forward to the president signing this bill into law without delay. This bill would not have happened without Chairman Rockefeller’s willingness to work across the aisle to build consensus and the cooperation of our partners in the House, led by Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith.”
The Cybersecurity Act of 2013, S. 1353, which passed both the Senate and House of Representatives last night as the “Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014,” authorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to facilitate and support the development of voluntary, industry-led cyber standards and best practices for critical infrastructure – codifying elements of the successful process through which the NIST Cybersecurity Framework was developed. The bill authorizes the federal government to support cutting edge research, raise public awareness of cyber risks, and improve the nation’s cybersecurity workforce. The bill that will soon be sent to the President for his consideration incorporates a number of cybersecurity research provisions passed by the House of Representatives in H.R. 756, sponsored by Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) and championed by House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX).
The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014 will:
 
Formalize cybersecurity as one of NIST’s priority areas of focus by creating a NIST-facilitated, industry-driven process for developing a set of voluntary cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure. These standards will not duplicate or conflict with existing cyber requirements or regulatory processes, and they will be non-regulatory, non-prescriptive and technology neutral;
Strengthen cyber research and development by building on existing research and development programs, and ensure better coordination across the federal government;
Improve the cyber workforce and cyber education by making sure the next generation of cyber experts are trained and prepared for the future;
Increase the public’s awareness of cyber risks and cybersecurity; and
Advance cybersecurity technical standards.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a01c7f31-6b5f-455e-b13b-459733ab059f,Thune Pays Tribute to Tim Johnson on Senate Floor,2014-12-11,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) took to the Senate floor today paying tribute to retiring Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota). Below are video and transcript of his remarks on the Senate floor.

“Mr. President, I rise today to bid farewell to my colleague and friend, Senator Tim Johnson.
“Tim has deep roots in South Dakota and in the towns of Canton and Vermillion in particular. 
“He has served our state for more than 35 years, first in the state legislature, and then, after winning a highly competitive primary against two well-known Democrat opponents, in the halls of Congress. 
“In 1996, after a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, Tim won the first of his three terms in the U.S. Senate.  I am well acquainted with his second election because I came out on the short end of that stick.
“But I’ve had the privilege of serving with him in the South Dakota delegation for over 16 years, and today I want to pay tribute to his many years of public service and all he has done for our home state.
“I’d also like to take a moment to thank his staff for their dedicated work.
“They have worked closely with my staff for many years, and I’m grateful for their efforts.
“Mr. President, like many South Dakotans, I will always remember Tim as a fighter. 
“South Dakotans are tough, rugged folks, and Tim has exemplified that spirit every day in the U.S. Senate.
“A big part of his legacy as a public servant will be his tenacity, his work ethic, and his unwavering focus on the policies that he believed to be in the best interest of South Dakota. 
“Tim and I haven’t seen eye-to-eye on every issue, but we’ve always been able to come together and work for South Dakotans in times of crisis.
“From drought relief, to flood and tornado responses, to protecting the Black Hills from wildfires, Senator Johnson and I have always been able to quickly respond to the needs of our state, regardless of party differences or past disagreements.
“Mr. President, when you represent a state like South Dakota, what some people call a “flyover” state – a state some of our colleagues here in the Senate occasionally mix up with North Dakota – there are days when it can seem like the concerns of rural Americans aren’t given fair consideration, that the needs of rural America are not being heard by the administration or the more densely populated coastal states. 
“I have had the great pleasure of working with Tim to bring a voice to the concerns of rural America and those of us who hail from the middle of the country. 
“To highlight just one of the many examples I could bring up, since his first term in Congress Tim has fought for water infrastructure to deliver clean drinking water to families in South Dakota and throughout the Great Plains. 
“Water is a vital resource in the rural expanses of South Dakota, and Tim’s efforts have helped meet this basic need in underserved Indian reservations, small towns, and rural areas across the state.
“These investments will pay dividends well beyond his tenure in the Senate. 
“Throughout Tim’s long career in public service, from his beginnings in the South Dakota Legislature to his ascension to the chairmanship of the Senate Banking Committee, he has had a hand in numerous efforts that will help South Dakotans and Americans alike for generations to come. 
“And I know I speak for all South Dakotans when I say thank you for your dedication and service to our great state.
“Tim, it’s been an honor to serve with you here in the Senate.
“Thank you for your example, your efforts on behalf of our beloved South Dakota, and most of all, for your friendship.   
“On behalf of my wife Kimberly and myself, I wish you, Barbara, and your family the very best as you begin a new chapter.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=4D1E06DC-7EFF-41CA-8FF6-EEDA3223A11C,Spending bill in Congress would boost S.D.,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"South Dakota would be a big winner if Congress passes a $1.01 trillion spending package this week, with the Lewis & Clark project and hunters and fisherman benefiting from the sweeping legislation.
Congress is expected to approve the 1,603-page annual spending package that includes $512 billion in defense spending and $492 billion in non-defense spending as early as Thursday. The legislation covers the entire discretionary budget of the federal government for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
While the bill increased the amount of money a person can contribute to a national political party and allocated billions to treating and fighting Ebola in the U.S. and abroad, among other issues, several items embedded in the measure would have a direct impact on South Dakota residents.
“The best news about the omnibus appropriations agreement is that there will be no government shutdown,” said retiring Sen. Tim Johnson, a Democrat. “Tucked into the bill is good news for South Dakota.”
The entire Lewis & Clark system, which is 65 percent completed more than a decade after construction began in 2003, stretches from well fields and a water treatment plant south of Vermillion to Sioux Falls and has reached the Minnesota border just northwest of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Several communities are still awaiting service.
Congress initially doled out $2.42 million in funding targeted for Lewis & Clark, while the spending bill provided an extra $31 million that would need to be distributed among five rural water projects. Last year, Lewis and Clark got a total of about $8 million to help build the long-delayed project.
“Lewis & Clark should come out in even better hands in this negotiation and keep competing for those dollars because so many of the other projects are nearing completing or have been completed,” Noem told reporters. “This is an amazing opportunity for Lewis & Clark to get access to that $31 million, which would be huge in making sure we get closer to completion.”
Sen. John Thune, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate leadership, noted the spending bill would ban the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating lead in ammunition and fishing tackle gear.
“This is a win for sportsmen and women in our state,” Thune said. “If the EPA bans lead in hunting ammunition and fishing tackle, it would dramatically increase the cost, pricing many hunting and fishing enthusiasts out of the market.”
Noem and Thune also noted the legislation would prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from placing the sage grouse, a Western bird whose population has declined the past three decades, on the Endangered Species List next year. Keeping the bird off has been a goal of some residents and businesses in the West River who use land shared by the sage grouse for ranching, energy development and other purposes.
Environmental groups criticized lawmakers for ignoring efforts to protect the iconic bird.
“This latest blow could delay conservation efforts for years, rendering sage-grouse recovery more expensive and more disruptive in the future, and putting the smaller populations of “bi-state” and Columbia Basin sage grouse at an even higher risk of extinction,” said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of the Defenders of Wildlife.
The spending bill maintains the country-of-origin labeling program, a law that requires steaks, pork chops and other meat to carry labels that identify where animals were born, raised and slaughtered. It also includes funding for agricultural research programs at South Dakota State University.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=A648BF85-51E4-4B4B-93EC-FDE4346B9F93,Spending bill could keep Spearfish hatchery open,2014-12-10,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"The D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish could live on, at least for a while longer.  That's if the massive $1.3 trillion federal spending bill under debate in Washington makes it through Congress.
In a release, South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson says the omnibus appropriations bill has a provision to keep the Spearfish hatchery open and keep the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's national fisheries archives at the D.C. Booth Hatchery.
The bill would prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from using funding to terminate operations or to close any facility in fiscal year 2015.
Representative Kristi Noem says she's happy the Sanford Underground Lab would maintain its $15 million funding level.
Federal lawmakers on Thursday will take up the measure to fund the government through September of 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E735DD46-D7F1-4B54-B5B8-80F25C22146C,Weekly Column: Preserving the Veterans Town,2014-12-08,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since our fight to save the Hot Springs VA Hospital began.  On December 12, 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a reorganization proposal that included plans to close the doors of the VA hospital in Hot Springs – a community so dedicated to those who’ve served that it has earned the title “Veterans Town.”
The Hot Springs VA Hospital is a special place.  I’ve had the privilege of visiting the community and facility numerous times. I’m always taken aback by how relaxing its surroundings are and the beauty of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a short-term home for veterans recovering from injuries or illness that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The hospital employs hundreds in the Hot Springs community, many of whom are veterans themselves.  And I’ve spoken to many of the nearly 31,000 veterans served by the hospitals in Hot Springs and Fort Meade – the vast majority of which have been very passionate about keeping the hospital open.  Needless to say, it would be a shame to lose this facility.
Since the proposal was initially put forward, we’ve been asking for more information on the Native Americans who are served at the hospital, the land valuation in the VA’s cost-benefit analysis, and simple estimates for key provisions.  The numbers have never added up nor have they been consistent with community stakeholder data.
In August, I held a Congressional Field Hearing with the Chairman of the House VA Committee where these same questions about data discrepancies and transparency arose.  Once again, the answers we received from the VA were far from sufficient.  The Hot Springs Hospital did, however, earn the respect and support of Chairman Miller at the hearing.  He’s an important ally to have in Congress.
Despite the data discrepancies, the VA is pushing forward with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), one of the last items needed to finalize their proposal.  I helped the U.S. House of Representatives pass a provision earlier this year that would stop the VA from using any FY2015 funds to conduct an EIS on facilities like the Hot Springs hospital, but the provision has not yet been taken up by the Senate.
Two weeks ago, I spoke with VA Secretary Robert McDonald about next steps.  He was aware of what’s been going on in the community and I requested that he come out to Hot Springs to see it for himself – an invitation I also made in writing shortly after he was confirmed as Secretary in July and again last week.  It’s something we continue to work on.
This fight is far from over.  Hot Springs has been providing critical care to South Dakota veterans for more than a century and I’m committed to doing all I can to ensure Hot Springs can serve veterans in this way for a century more.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=2c0fcc65-7d62-4b6d-ac47-9d222ebd924c,Common Sense Wetlands Policies Needed in Washington,2014-12-05,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		South Dakota’s diverse landscape includes everything from native grasslands and fertile croplands, to forestlands and wetlands. Wetlands are especially prevalent east of the Missouri River in an area known as the Prairie Pothole Region.
Farmers and ranchers in the Prairie Pothole Region are familiar with the unique challenges wetlands pose to their operations. In wetter years, seasonal wetlands can prevent crops from being planted or flood crops already planted. These complications are often exacerbated by federal regulations, which restrict how wetlands are managed by farming operations. Not only are farmers forced to deal with crop losses, but they are also forced to tread around federal rules governing the wetlands.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule redefining “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act to include nearly every stream, wetland, and ditch that has typically been regulated at the state level. This proposed expansion would have significant consequences on property owners, likely subject to new federal permit requirements, compliance costs, and threats of significant fines.
Additionally, hundreds of farmers throughout the state continue working diligently to comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) “swampbuster” requirements while waiting, sometimes longer than a year, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete requests for wetlands determinations needed to retain eligibility for farm program assistance.
On December 4th, I raised both of these issues with the Chief of the NRCS, Jason Weller, at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing. I made clear that he and other leaders at USDA have an obligation to promote the welfare and wellbeing of agriculture producers, including defending producers from EPA’s overreaching “waters of the U.S.” rule.
I also called on Chief Weller to address the backlog of undetermined wetlands experienced by so many South Dakota producers. Chief Weller stated that since the July NRCS meeting in Aberdeen, attended by more than 300 South Dakota producers, the backlog of undetermined wetlands in South Dakota decreased by 10 percent, and is currently under 2,600 requests. He also announced South Dakota will receive additional staff to reduce the state’s current wetlands determinations backlog. Chief Weller’s goal is to completely clear the backlog in three years.
While I welcome Chief Weller’s update on the progress made over the past few months, the current status of the wetlands determination backlog is still unacceptable, and more must be done to meet the needs of South Dakota producers. I will continue pushing the NRCS to eliminate the backlog of determinations, and I will continue fighting to keep EPA’s “waters of the U.S. rule” from encroaching on farmers, ranchers, and businesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=058baa6c-5b0f-4d3f-873f-ff6fd93c89d7,Thune Urges USDA Chief to Defend Farmers from EPA Rule and Provide Answers on Undetermined Wetlands,2014-12-03,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		At a hearing today before the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) questioned the Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Jason Weller about the progress clearing the backlog of undetermined wetlands in South Dakota. Thune also reminded the NRCS Chief of USDA’s responsibility to protect farmers from the potentially harmful Environmental Protection Agency proposed “waters of the U.S.” rule.
“Eastern South Dakota is ground zero in the Prairie Pothole Region, and farmers in this area of the state, especially northeastern South Dakota, have been challenged by flooding off and on over the past several years,” said Thune at today’s hearing. “Many of these farmers, in order to better manage their land and to ensure they meet conservation compliance provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill, have requested wetlands determinations from NRCS.” Thune also told the NRCS Chief that the wetlands backlog is a lingering problem that has created great consternation among producers in that area.
Video of Thune’s questions for Chief Weller is available here.

As of September 1st, South Dakota’s certified wetlands determination backlog stood at 2,824 requests. In July, the state and federal NRCS held a meeting in Aberdeen with more than 300 South Dakota producers to discuss this ongoing problem.
Chief Weller shared with Thune that since the July meeting, the backlog of undetermined wetlands in South Dakota decreased by 10 percent, and is currently under 2,600 requests. He also announced South Dakota will receive additional funds, almost $1.5 million, to add staff to reduce the current backlog and that 18 full-time and four part-time staff will be dedicated to wetlands determinations in South Dakota. It is Chief Weller’s goal that the backlog be completely cleared in three years. Producers awaiting determinations should receive a letter updating them on their status in January.
“While I welcome Chief Weller’s update on the progress that has been made over the past few months, the current status of the wetlands determination backlog is unacceptable, and more must be done to meet the needs of South Dakota producers,” said Thune.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=865ee31f-516b-4679-920a-2293eb2a52aa,Thune Announces Staff Changes in D.C. Office,2014-12-02,2014,2014-12,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today announced that Brendon Plack has been promoted to deputy chief of staff and Jane Lucas has been promoted to legislative director in his Washington, D.C., office.
“I’m pleased to have Brendon and Jane in these new roles,” said Thune. “With strong South Dakota roots and key legislative experience in the Senate, Brendon and Jane are well equipped to hit the ground running.”
Plack will replace Summer Mersinger, an Onida, South Dakota, native, who is departing Thune’s office at the end of the year after 15 years of working for Thune. Previously, Plack served as Thune’s legislative director after serving as policy director at the Senate Republican Conference and energy policy analyst at the Republican Policy Committee. Plack is a graduate of Augustana College and a native of Madison, South Dakota.
Lucas replaces Plack as Thune’s legislative director. Previously, Lucas served as health policy counsel and legislative assistant in Thune’s personal office. Lucas is a graduate of South Dakota State University and Georgetown University Law School and is a native of Brookings, South Dakota.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=872a0db0-7139-4bd7-ad4e-da7c9b8ae9b9,Shop Local to Support Community Development,2014-11-28,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		Our small businesses in South Dakota and across the country are the backbone of our nation's economy. They produce goods, provide services, and generate revenue that keep our economy growing, provide millions of Americans with quality jobs, and keep our nation highly competitive in the global community.
South Dakota has become known for its robust business climate, consistently ranking among the top states in the country to do business. With a fiscally responsible state government, no personal or corporate income tax, and an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent, it is easy to understand why South Dakota continues to gain national attention for its healthy business environment.
While a low tax burden is an important start, most South Dakota small businesses depend on the support of consumers in their communities to keep their doors open. The loyalty and patronage of customers in small towns and in small businesses across the state inject money into local establishments, helping them to compete and provide a greater array of products and services.
Most people can recall a business in their community that donates to every fundraiser or sponsors a little league team every year. Local businesses not only contribute to local projects hoping their sponsorship will generate business, but they also contribute because they believe their contribution is important to improving the community. Whether they are employing our friends and neighbors, donating to annual food drives, or offering the “family” discount when times are tough, small businesses are truly the lifeblood of our South Dakota communities.
In Washington, I believe we must do more to provide certainty and support for our small businesses, which create 65 percent of new jobs. One of the most important things we can do for our small businesses is to make common-sense reforms to our tax code. Navigating the tax code is difficult enough for corporations with teams of Certified Public Accountants, and it is even more difficult for the vast majority of businesses in this country that are organized as pass-through businesses, which means they pay their taxes at the individual rates. In South Dakota, 93 percent of businesses pay their taxes at the individual rate. These individual operations expend time and money complying with a tax code that could otherwise be spent hiring new workers or reinvesting in their businesses. If we want businesses to grow, we need to fix our tax code for both corporations and pass-through businesses. I am eager to get to work with the new Republican majority in the next Congress to create an economic climate that encourages small businesses to expand and hire more workers.
As the holiday season kicks off, I encourage South Dakotans not to limit your small business patronage to Small Business Saturday. Remember to support your friends; support your community; and support small businesses by shopping local throughout this holiday season.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4fc1b9c6-510a-4fd9-854f-61b96254c7bb,Proposed Obama Ozone Regulation An Undeniable Gut Punch to Middle Class,2014-11-26,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today criticized a proposed regulation from the Obama Environmental Protection Agency to expand costly ground-level ozone regulations across the country:
“It’s disappointing, though not surprising, that the Obama administration would unveil what could be the most expensive regulation in history on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday. With nearly 9 million Americans still struggling to find work and make ends meet, the last thing the president should be proposing is a regulation that will have a devastating impact on jobs and energy prices for those who can afford it the least.
“Major metropolitan areas in states like California and New York – where smog is the worst – cannot meet the existing standard even after years of non-compliance. We should be targeting these problem areas before devastating rural economies in states with cleaner air. I will continue to look for ways to move my legislation, the CASE Act, to block the EPA’s absurd regulation and make sure we first focus on the most problematic levels of smog in populated areas.”
Thune’s bipartisan, bicameral CASE Act, S.2833, would block the EPA from lowering the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone below 75 ppb until 85 percent of the current non-attainment counties achieve compliance with the existing standard. It would also require the EPA to consider the costs and feasibility of the lower standard, which the EPA currently does not consider. Finally, the bill would prohibit the EPA from using unreliable modeling to expand non-attainment areas to rural counties that otherwise would not be impacted by the expensive regulation.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c68033ca-b0c7-4236-8901-32bb2c6909c2,Thune Statement on Extension of Iranian Nuclear Talks,2014-11-24,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today issued the following statement regarding the extension of the Iranian nuclear talks:
“After continued unsuccessful talks and repeated extensions while Iran continues to enrich, it is increasingly evident that the administration is unable to secure a deal that will force Iran to fully suspend its enrichment program. Any agreement allowing Iran to maintain significant nuclear enrichment capabilities will likely prompt neighboring countries to pursue nuclear enrichment programs of their own, increasing tensions in an already volatile region and further threatening the security of our ally Israel.
“Given the fact that it’s been a year since the original six-month interim agreement, it is time for the Senate to take action on the bipartisan Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act to impose additional sanctions on Iran.”
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=77189FCA-4B24-4080-B70F-642FE7F8EF39,Noem receives award from S.D. Farm Bureau,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Associated Press 
	U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem has been recognized by the South Dakota Farm Bureau.
The group awarded Noem its “Friend of Farm Bureau” honor.
Scott VanderWal is the group’s president. He says Noem’s relentless efforts to get the 2014 farm bill approved by Congress have given producers “a strong safety net for the always risky agriculture industry.”
The award is given to members of Congress who have a record of voting in support of Farm Bureau issues.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=78CFC6B5-D374-4746-864D-2E831B37D485,"Noem Receives ""Friend of Farm Bureau"" Award",2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem today accepted the “Friend of Farm Bureau” award from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) for her work to expand markets, curtail irresponsible government regulations, and support small business.  
“It is an honor to accept this award today,"" said Noem.  ""The last two years have been an uphill battle.  There were a lot of hours put into educating my colleagues in Congress about the importance of ag policy, but in the end, we passed one of the strongest and most reformed farm bills in history.  We have a lot more to do.  In the next few years, I’ll be looking to expand the market for our commodities through new trade agreements and reform the tax code to make it easier for farmers and ranchers to do business.  I’m looking forward to the challenge.""
The award is given at the conclusion of each Congress to those members who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the AFBF Board of Directors.
“Producers across South Dakota understand that they have a friend and advocate in Rep. Noem,” said South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal.  “Rep. Noem understands the challenges farmers and ranchers face every day because she’s walked in our boots.  She fought relentlessly to get a farm bill passed this last Congress, and as a result, we have a strong safety net for the always risky agriculture industry.  I look forward to all she will accomplish in the coming years.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=D6A65D4B-63D5-42F4-9C00-B65E6CE61634,Weekly Column: Thanksgiving in Action,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Our Thanksgiving Day typically starts off with my husband, Bryon, convincing all of us to sit and watch the parade with him.  It’s not that we don’t enjoy seeing the floats and balloons barreling down New York City’s narrow streets as much as he does, but we’re an active family and at some point food must be prepared, chores done, and football games to get ready for.  This year, we will be spending the holiday with Bryon’s side of the family – after the parade, of course – where we’ll celebrate and give thanks for our blessings of the past year. 
But as I sit down to write this column and think about all our Thanksgiving traditions, I wondered: Do we do enough to show how grateful we are and put the blessings we’ve been given to work for others?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful and supportive family.  I have an outstanding partner by my side and my kids are surrounded by a loving and safe community that looks out for them day in and day out.  We have a roof over our heads and plenty of food on the table.  And to top it all off, we live in a secure country that promises opportunity and freedom. 
My family expresses our gratitude through our words often, but I don’t know that we adequately put our thanksgiving into action.  I’m reminded of a quote from the English preacher, W.T. Purkiser.  He said, “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”  It’s not just about giving thanks, it’s about showing thanks.
Perhaps no one deserves more gratitude than our women and men in uniform.  They put our values of justice and liberty to work in order to keep our nation safe.  Hundreds of South Dakotans who have exchanged snowstorms for dust storms have missed Thanksgivings, Christmases, and birthdays to do the job, but because of their sacrifices we can have freedom from fear.  For that, I am eternally grateful and committed to serving them as they have served us.
We all have so many reasons to be thankful.  Every year during our thanksgiving dinner, my family has gone around the table and listed out one thing we were thankful for that year.  Expressing that gratitude through our words can mean a lot, but showing it in our actions can change the world around you.  I hope you join me this year in putting thanksgiving in action.
From my family to yours, have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=33d8e650-209c-4616-9eb7-6c6fdc4c1976,"New Republican Majority Will Prioritize Jobs, Energy",2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		For more than six years, the Keystone XL pipeline has been at the bottom of the Democrats’ list of priorities. Yet, less than a month after the voters soundly rejected the Obama agenda at the polls on Election Day, the Democrat leadership in the Senate was suddenly willing to vote on the Keystone XL pipeline. Unfortunately, the vote wasn’t due to the tens of thousands of jobs it would create for the American people, but instead was used as a bargaining chip to help save the job of one senator who’s facing a tough run-off election.
It’s disappointing that they finally lifted their objection to voting on the pipeline when the job of one of their own was on the line. Regrettably, even after all of the theatrics, a majority of Democrats still voted to block this common-sense, job-creating project, which failed by a single vote.
The Keystone XL pipeline is a no-brainer. It would invest billions of dollars in the U.S. economy and would put thousands of Americans back to work, all at zero expense to the American taxpayer. The Obama State Department estimates that in South Dakota alone, the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will bring 3,000-4,000 jobs. These jobs will range from construction jobs for welders, pipefitters and laborers, to spin-off jobs at local hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. This will generate well over $100 million in earnings and some $20 million in annual property taxes to local counties. That represents funding for a lot of schools, roads, bridges, and law enforcement personnel in our state.
In addition to the economic boom, the Department of Energy concluded in 2011 that Keystone XL oil will be refined in the U.S. and will offset imports from Venezuela. Another benefit of the pipeline is that it would transport 100,000 barrels of U.S. oil per day from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota and Montana, which would relieve over one unit train per day and help to alleviate the rail bottleneck preventing farmers and other shippers from reaching markets. Farmers in South Dakota have piled harvested grain on the ground because much of the rail capacity they depend on is tied up moving Bakken oil – the very oil that could be moved in the Keystone XL pipeline.
While opponents of the pipeline like to cite environmental concerns as their reason for opposing the pipeline and its jobs, five separate environmental reviews from the president’s own State Department found that the pipeline poses no meaningful risk to the environment. In fact, the State Department admits that the Keystone pipeline is the safest way of transporting the oil. Pipelines also produce fewer emissions than other modes of transport.
This fight is far from over. One of the first priorities of the new Republican majority next Congress will be to send the president a bill that approves the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s time for the president and Democrats to put the interests of hard-working Americans ahead of the extreme environmental wing of his party. Let’s get this passed and put Americans to work.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dbea6c64-ac0f-4f10-ba7b-a2d1f8e52c92,Senate Passes Bill to Preserve Rural Access to Therapy Services,2014-11-21,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) praised last night’s Senate passage of bipartisan legislation led by Senators Thune, Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) that prohibits the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from enforcing a regulation that harms access to therapy services in rural areas for calendar year 2014.
The extension of the prohibition on enforcement provides additional time for Thune, Tester, and Moran to advance their Protecting Access to Rural Therapy Services (PARTS) Act (S. 1143), which clarifies that general supervision of outpatient therapeutic services by a physician or non-physician practitioner is sufficient for payment of therapeutic hospital outpatient services.
“Requiring supervising physicians to be present for some outpatient therapy services places an unnecessary strain on the already overextended staff of rural health care facilities,” said Thune. “I applaud my colleagues in the Senate for supporting this legislation that will provide rural health care facilities in states like South Dakota with the flexibility needed to continue to deliver quality outpatient therapy services without being subjected to budget-busting workforce regulations as we seek a long-term solution beyond 2014.”
Outpatient therapeutic services include services such as drug infusions, blood transfusions, and cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services. These health care services have always been administered by licensed, skilled medical professionals in hospitals under the overall direction of a physician. However, in its attempt to clarify existing regulations in 2009, the CMS retroactively interpreted existing policy in place since 2001 to require a supervising physician be physically present in the department at all times when Medicare beneficiaries receive outpatient therapy services, the majority of which are low risk. 
In response to perennial concerns raised by hospitals and lawmakers, including Senator Thune, CMS delayed enforcement of its direct supervision policy from 2009 through 2013 for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and other small, rural hospitals. Recognizing that CMS would be enforcing the regulation in 2014, Senator Thune offered the PARTS Act as an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee’s SGR and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act, which passed by voice vote out of committee on December 13, 2013. The language included in the SGR and Medicare Beneficiary Access Improvement Act would permanently prohibit enforcement of this regulation for CAHs. However, until Congress enacts a permanent fix, the legislation passed by the Senate last night would provide for an additional year of relief from the regulation. 
The legislation passed by the Senate last night will now be sent to the President for his consideration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=0A7A3850-39C2-46A8-9121-404DB6163849,"Noem Looks for a Real Fix, Not Quick Fix on Immigration",2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem today urged President Obama to work with Congress to explore permanent, long-term solutions on immigration, rather than pursuing unilateral action.  
“We need to look for real, permanent solutions on immigration, not quick fixes,” said Noem.  “There is no doubt that we have a problem on our borders.  They are extremely porous and that raises serious concerns about our national security.  I’m willing to work together to find a commonsense solution that first and foremost secures our borders, but a ‘my way or the highway’ negotiation won’t work.”
Noem has long supported a step-by-step approach to immigration reform, which would begin by taking steps to secure the border and putting in place a system that works for South Dakota agriculture.  This summer, Noem supported H.R.5230, which would have authorized the deployment of the National Guard to the southern border, provided funding to increase security, accelerated judicial proceedings, and ensured U.S. Customs and Border Protection had access to federal land near the border.  The legislation passed the House, but was blocked in the U.S. Senate.
“I am confident the House will use available tools at its disposal to bring an end to the President’s unilateral executive action,” continued Noem.  “The President is blatantly disregarding the will of the people of South Dakota and the Constitution’s separation of powers.  It’s unacceptable and must be stopped.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=55be444f-5204-432a-89b5-6bdebabd4749,Thune Joins Colleagues in Introducing Ebola Visa Ban Legislation,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), and Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) in introducing the Keeping America Safe from Ebola Act of 2014 to impose common-sense travel restrictions by creating a temporary visa ban for foreign nationals who are residents of a country that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has designated as a country with “widespread transmission of Ebola.”
“As the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, I have questions about our country’s ability to handle the threat that Ebola poses among our transportation sectors, including airports and ports,” said Thune. “We need to do all we can to keep Americans safe and to prevent the spread of Ebola, which is why Congress should place a temporary travel ban on individuals coming from areas with widespread transmission of Ebola. ”
The legislation would suspend new visas and revoke current visas for individuals who are permanent residents or nationals of a country the CDC has designated as a country for “widespread transmission of Ebola” and whose last habitual residency was a country the CDC certified as a country with “widespread transmission of Ebola.” Aid workers and foreign military who must travel to the United States would be exempt. The bill also requires the president to report to Congress every 30 days to provide an update on the Ebola outbreak and would sunset the bill 60 days after the Director of the CDC certified there is no longer an Ebola outbreak.
In October, Thune joined House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) in calling for a temporary travel ban from affected West African countries. Additionally, Thune and Shuster sent a letter on October 14th calling on the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security to provide an accounting of their plans to help protect the public from the transmission of the Ebola virus or any other infectious disease via the nation’s transportation network. On October 23rd, the two members also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to consider use of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet to help deliver aid and resources to West Africa.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House today by U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6e7c1ae7-f611-4b23-a97e-6f1ff3651b4a,Thune Statement on Obama Executive Action,2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, tonight issued the following statement in advance of the president’s announcement of executive action on immigration:
“President Obama’s decision to move forward unilaterally demonstrates a willful disregard of the American people. The president’s policies and go-it-alone approach were soundly rejected on election night, but he doesn’t appear to be interested in listening to the American people.
“The president has stated more than 20 times that he lacks the authority to take this executive action. He may have chosen to ignore the American people, but congressional Republicans won’t. We hear their concerns, and we will take action.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c121a0d4-75da-431a-ae48-894a94e88cfc,"Thune, Nelson Introduce Legislation to Help Prevent Auto Injuries, Deaths From Faulty Parts by Incentivizing Whistleblowers",2014-11-20,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) today introduced legislation (S. 2949) that would incentivize employees from the automotive sector to voluntarily provide information on faulty products to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prevent serious physical injuries and death. In the 114th Congress, Thune is in line to become the Commerce Committee chairman, and Nelson is in line to become the ranking member. U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and Dean Heller (R-Nevada), the leaders of the Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on consumer protection, are cosponsors of the bill.
The Thune-Nelson bill would allow employees or contractors of motor vehicle manufacturers, part suppliers, and dealerships to receive up to 30 percent of the monetary penalties resulting from a DOT or Justice Department enforcement action that totals more than $1 million if they share original information not previously known to the DOT secretary relating to any motor vehicle defect, noncompliance, or any violation of any reporting requirement that is likely to cause risk of death or serious injury. 
“By encouraging employees in the auto sector to speak up about auto safety problems, we can help prevent injuries and even deaths for American drivers,” said Thune. “This bill will ensure that more Americans are aware of faulty parts in their vehicles sooner and better protect the traveling public.”
“It took years for problems with faulty ignitions and defective airbags to fully come to light,” said Nelson. “If ever there was a time to encourage industry insiders to speak out, it is right now.”
“It has taken too long for this vital information of defective products to reach the surface,” said Heller. “This legislation is intended to save American lives by removing these vehicles from the road. In the majority, I will continue to focus on auto safety and work with my colleagues, Senators Thune and Nelson, to insure safety on the road remains a top priority of this committee.” 
“In my experience as an auditor, and in my work to boost accountability and oversight of government, whistleblowers are absolutely critical to rooting out waste, fraud, and misconduct,” said McCaskill. “This is a commonsense, bipartisan effort that we should all be ready to get behind to keep drivers safe and better protect American consumers.”
The Thune-Nelson bill will take into account whether or not the whistleblower had the opportunity to report the problems internally, as well as the significance of the information. It will also protect whistleblowers’ identities. The legislation is modeled after existing statutory whistleblower protections that encourage individuals to share information with the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=ceef784f-77e0-4329-97eb-5e8dec9efa95,Thune Statement on NHTSA Nomination,2014-11-19,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today issued the following statement on the nomination of Dr. Mark R. Rosekind to serve as the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
“After months of calling on the president to nominate an administrator to oversee motor vehicle safety laws, I'm pleased to hear that he has finally nominated someone. The administration has fallen short on its responsibility to the American people by leaving NHTSA without a Senate-confirmed leader for nearly a year. There is much to be done at NHTSA, and I look forward to sitting down with Dr. Rosekind to hear more about his plans to address the rising number of motor vehicle safety recalls.”
Thune has sent two letters to the Obama administration calling on the president to nominate a NHTSA director, the first on March 31, 2014 and the second on October 29, 2014.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FE6E93D6-17FC-495C-8AD7-D6FED37AD3FE,Noem To Continue Fight For Keystone XL,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"KCSR Radio 
	South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem has promised to continue the fight for the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction in the wake of the U.S. Senate voting down legislation to advance the pipeline. Noem helped the House pass the legislation on November 14th.
“I was extremely disappointed to see the United States Senate vote down bipartisan legislation to construct the Keystone XL Pipeline,” said Rep. Noem. “This pipeline would create jobs, alleviate pressure on our road systems and rails, and generate revenues for our states to support local schools and infrastructure. This is not the end of this fight and I look forward to resurrecting this debate in the New Year.”
Noem has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction. She is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, and has strongly urged President Obama and Secretary Kerry in writing to support immediate approval of the pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=18BB0CBE-97EE-481B-9FD1-9A8A6F6CE3EB,Noem Promises to Continue Fight for Keystone XL Pipeline,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem today promised to continue the fight for the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction in the wake of the U.S. Senate voting down legislation to advance the pipeline.  Noem helped the House pass the legislation on November 14.
“I was extremely disappointed to see the United States Senate vote down bipartisan legislation to construct the Keystone XL Pipeline,” said Rep. Noem.  “This pipeline would create jobs, alleviate pressure on our road systems and rails, and generate revenues for our states to support local schools and infrastructure.  This is not the end of this fight and I look forward to resurrecting this debate in the new year.”
Noem has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction.  She is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, and has strongly urged President Obama and Secretary Kerry in writing to support immediate approval of the pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=67445a15-eb6f-4510-8cd3-0e3503786917,Senate Democrats Choose Obstruction Over Jobs,2014-11-18,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today issued the following statement on the Senate Democrats’ latest blockade of the Keystone XL pipeline:  
“While Senate Republicans have spent the last six years working to get the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline approved, Senate Democrats have done all they can to block it. It’s disappointing that not until the job of one of their own was on the line did they finally lift their objection to voting on the pipeline. Even after all of the theatrics, a majority of Democrats still voted to block this common-sense, job-creating project.
“This fight is far from over. One of the first priorities of the new Republican majority next Congress will be to send the president a bill that approves the Keystone XL pipeline. Approving this project is a no-brainer. It would invest billions of dollars in the U.S. economy and would put thousands of Americans back to work, all at zero expense to the American taxpayer.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=82bfd283-4009-4045-be73-19870d92eee8,"Thune Discusses Keystone Vote, Climate Change, Immigration On Fox News Sunday",2014-11-16,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today appeared on “Fox News Sunday” with Chris Wallace to discuss the upcoming Senate vote on Keystone, the president’s one-sided emissions deal with China, and the president’s potential executive action on immigration.
Click here to watch Thune's full interview.  
On the upcoming Senate vote on the Keystone XL pipeline: 
“If the Democrats were serious about this, we would have voted on this years ago. This thing has been hanging around now for six years. There’s been five environmental impact reviews of the Keystone pipeline, all of which have come back and said it would have minimal impact on the environment. The president’s own State Department says it would support over 40,000 jobs. In my state of South Dakota, three to four thousand jobs, $100 million in earnings, $20 million in property tax revenue. This is an issue – a no-brainer in the eyes of the American public, which finally, finally is coming to the floor of the United States Senate, not because they’re worried about American jobs, but because they're worried about the job of a senator from Louisiana.”
“The Canadians are going to produce the oil. The only question is whether or not America’s going to benefit from it and we’re going to get the jobs that come with it and whether we’re going to replace the oil, the same type of oil that’s coming in from Venezuela, which is what the State Department said this project would do.”
On the president’s one-sided emissions deal with China:
“What the president agreed to was a bad deal. It’s all pain and no gain for the American people. It’s one-sided, it’s non-binding. There’s a hope that someday down the road, the Chinese might, might actually reduce, at the same time the United States makes reductions twice at what we’re planning right now. And what that means is, a 90 percent increase in utility rates for people, low-income people in places like South Dakota.
“And I guess what I would say to that is, if you trust the Chinese on something like this, I’ve got some oceanfront property here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for you, because this is a one-sided – and it is a non-binding deal that we have agreed to, and I don’t expect that we’re ever going to see China agree to it in the end.”
On the president’s potential executive action on immigration:
“I think Republicans, Chris, are looking at different options about how best to respond to the president’s unilateral action, which many people believe is unconstitutional, unlawful action on this particular issue. But my concern is – shutting the government down doesn’t solve the problem. My concern is what happens if we end up shutting down what could be a record of legislative accomplishment that’s there for the taking if the president would choose cooperation instead of conflict. This president right now is choosing friction, partisanship instead of cooperation. There’s an opportunity for us to get some things done here, and instead the president is going down this unilateral path, and it’s going to make it very hard for us to get anything done on immigration or any other issue, for that matter.” 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=5E4BAAAD-4464-489A-9B42-1C33B7AF5310,Noem Helps Advance Legislation to Build the Keystone XL Pipeline,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem today helped advance H.R.5682, a bill to cut through regulatory red tape and allow the Keystone XL Pipeline to move forward.  Noem joined both Republicans and Democrats in passing the legislation, which would formally approve TransCanada’s application to construct the pipeline, through the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.
“Many South Dakotans are paying twice as much of their after-tax income on energy than the national average.  We ought to be doing everything we can to bring those costs down,” said Rep. Noem.  “The Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction will create jobs and give America more leverage in the global energy marketplace.  It could alleviate pressure on our road systems and rails and generate much-needed revenue for communities and counties across the state.  This administration has run out of excuses.  It’s time to build.”
Noem has been a vocal supporter of the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction.  She is a co-sponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act and has strongly urged President Obama and Secretary Kerry in writing to support immediate approval of the pipeline.  
“For far too long, the politics of the Keystone XL Pipeline have blocked its construction as well as the jobs and economic activity it would generate,” continued Noem.  “10,000 miles of pipeline have been constructed since Keystone was initially proposed, which is the equivalent of eight Keystone XL Pipelines.  Let’s move beyond the politics and start pushing energy back into this economy.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=8DC79322-9C32-424C-AC3D-5559DAC0E3A6,Weekly Column: Stopping a Federal Land Grab,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"November 14 marked the last day where the public could comment on what could become the largest federal land grab in our country’s history.  So, what’s the next step?
Last March, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers proposed changing the definition of “waters of the U.S.”  It’s one of those things bureaucracies try to do to expand their control.  Currently, the term “waters of the U.S.” encompasses all waters that are navigable or waterways that significantly connect to navigable ones.  What the EPA and Army Corps are trying to do is expand the rule to include much smaller bodies of water and even some areas that are only seasonally wet. 
In practical terms, it could mean ditches, small ponds, and prairie potholes could be regulated by the EPA and Army Corps.  Farmers, ranchers, and homeowners could have to get permits for things like controlling bugs and weeds on their fields or lawn – or building a fence around their property.  If you fail to comply, fines could reach as high as $37,500 per violation per day.
It’s not difficult to see why folks are so concerned and why many I spoke to planned to submit a comment to regulators.  Even though the public comment period is now expired, our fight continues.
The strategy we’re taking is two pronged:  Cut off the resources needed to move the proposal forward and apply as much pressure as we can on the EPA and Army Corps to withdraw the proposal.  It’s a strategy that I’ve helped make work in the past. 
When I was first elected to Congress, the EPA was reviewing their regulations on dust, including dust that is part of many everyday farming activities.  We applied legislative pressure through a bill I wrote and the EPA moved in a different direction.  In another instance, we combined pressure from Congress and pressure from the public to get the Department of Labor to rescind a rule that could have banned kids from doing some chores on their relative’s or neighbor’s farms.  And when OSHA was attempting to impose hefty regulations and fines on small family farms, we took the agency head on and they reversed course.
Already, I have helped the House pass limited legislation to ensure FY2015 funds are not used to move the EPA’s proposal forward; the bill has not been taken up by the Senate, however.  I have thrown my support behind H.R.5078, which prohibits the EPA and Army Corps from developing, finalizing, adopting, implementing, applying, administering, or enforcing – in other words, moving forward in any way – the proposal.  Myself and more than 200 other Members of Congress – both Republicans and Democrats – have written the EPA and Army Corps about our concerns as well.  And I will continue to do all I can to fight this rule.
What I’ve had a hard time understanding – and what I bluntly asked an administration official who was testifying before the Agriculture Committee a few months ago – is why they are pursuing the rule they claim is helpful when almost everybody is opposed to it.  Needless to say, I didn’t get a straightforward response.
We all ought to be able to turn on the faucet or go fishing and know the water is safe.  But there has to be a way to do it without farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and property owners having to turn to the EPA when they want to put up a fence.  It’s just not practical.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=23f4d9f9-3bee-4e80-a165-08c2f485de14,Working to Address South Dakotas Transportation Needs,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		Life in South Dakota’s wide open spaces means the nearest hospital or airport can be many miles away. It also means that adequate funding and sound infrastructure are critical to maintaining roads, bridges, railroads, and airports throughout our state. The stability provided by long-term federal transportation policy gives states and localities the tools they need to prioritize targeted transportation investments. Maintaining a national transportation system keeps roads safe for South Dakota families and ensures efficient movement of the commercial vehicles vital to a host of South Dakota industries.
This past week, I was pleased to host U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in South Dakota to discuss a variety of transportation issues. We spent the day highlighting transportation priorities in South Dakota and the importance of an efficient transportation system. We started the morning in Rapid City where Secretary Foxx, Governor Daugaard, and I participated in a roundtable meeting with a number of South Dakotans to discuss the importance of transportation and the impact it has on South Dakota’s and the nation’s economy, particularly as it relates to the state’s largest industry, agriculture. As we have witnessed since late last year, the inability of shippers and ag producers to secure rail cars and locomotives to get their products to market in a timely manner has a significant impact on our state.
We also made a stop in Chamberlain to show the secretary steps the state of South Dakota is taking to improve the state-owned rail line, providing ag producers and other shippers with expanded options to getting their grain to market. This portion of the secretary’s tour underscored the positive impact federal investment combined with state and local funding has on infrastructure and economic development.
In addition to the rail discussions, we organized a briefing for Secretary Foxx with officials at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The briefing was an opportunity to underscore how the pending proposal to expand the nearby Powder River training range is critical not only for our military servicemen and women but for our nation’s long-term safety and security. Secretary Foxx oversees the FAA which is currently reviewing this training expansion proposal.
Maintaining a sound and efficient transportation network in large, landmass states like South Dakota with a relatively small population is important to stimulating economic development. While we still need to make investments to maintain the thousands of miles of roads, bridges, and highways our state’s residents depend upon, Secretary Foxx left South Dakota with a better understanding of our state’s unique transportation challenges and the key role South Dakota plays in the national transportation system.
With my role as the next chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has direct oversight of the U.S. Department of Transportation, I look forward to working with Secretary Foxx and others to ensure that South Dakota’s transportation needs are not overlooked.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=cb726fc8-211e-47ed-b7df-a9eac96335a7,Celebrating Native American Heritage Month,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		While November is a busy time of year among football games, hunting trips, and the approaching holiday season, this month we also pause to reflect on the important contributions of Native Americans to our state and nation. On November 14th, I joined several of my Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution to recognize November as Native American Heritage Month. Since 1990, our country has celebrated Native American Heritage Month to honor and pay tribute to the proud ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.
The rich traditions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota are woven into the fabric of South Dakota’s history, and are a significant part of what makes South Dakota such a unique and special place. In fact, our state name of Dakota is a Native word for “friendly” or “allies.” 
Native American warriors such as Crazy Horse, Chief Sitting Bull, and Chief Red Cloud, were from the Dakotas and helped to shape the early history of our country. In World War I and World War II, Native American soldiers known as code talkers, used their native languages to send messages to the Allied forces. Code talkers played a critical role in efficiently and securely transmitting messages that enemy forces were not able to decode. These communications were a tremendous benefit to the Allied forces during military combat.
Last fall, in Washington, D.C., in a long overdue ceremony, Congress recognized South Dakota’s Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota code talkers by awarding their families and tribes with a Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is among the highest expressions of appreciation and recognition given by Congress for distinguished achievements and contributions and I was proud to cosponsor legislation to help make this recognition possible. 
This month is not only a time to celebrate Native American contributions, culture, and traditions, but also provides an opportunity to examine the issues facing Indian Country today. As we work to improve life in Indian Country at all levels of government, we continue to look for innovative solutions to improve education, public safety, access to health care, and economic opportunity on South Dakota’s nine reservations. Though we have achieved legislative successes over the years aimed at addressing these challenges, through strong federal, state, and tribal relationships, we can continue to make improvements to enhance the quality of life for tribal citizens, both on and off the reservations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d3e206f3-f1d6-4063-b820-c7ade4467555,Thune Discusses Senate Keystone Vote on FOX News On the Record,2014-11-14,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, joined Fox News’ “On the Record” with Greta Van Susteren to discuss the Senate’s upcoming vote on the Keystone XL pipeline and ObamaCare architect Jonathan Gruber’s negative comments about the American people’s understanding of the Democrats’ signature law.
Click here to watch Thune's interview.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=5022de25-7c06-4fe4-a20a-7b04e6b15b8c,Thune Re-elected Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference,2014-11-13,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) was re-elected Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference today by his fellow Republican Senators. Thune was originally elected to the post in December of 2011, but officially assumed the position of Senate Republican Conference Chairman in January of 2012. The Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference is the number three leadership position for Senate Republicans and is tasked with spearheading messaging efforts for the conference.
“It’s an honor to be selected by my colleagues to serve as the Chair of the Republican Conference,” said Thune. “We will continue to speak directly to the American public about our solutions to create jobs, grow the economy, and strengthen the middle class. The new Republican majority is ready to roll up our sleeves and get the Senate back to work. With the House Republican majority, we will work to pass policies that lead to more jobs, lower energy costs, and a less intrusive, more efficient government.”
Prior to being elected Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, Thune previously served as Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and as Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. The Senate Republican Conference helps senators communicate their priorities to the American people through a wide variety of communications resources, including television, radio, and web technology, among other services.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=F621BC85-7669-4797-A1BD-258EB1FF447B,Noem encourages volunteerism to mark Veterans Day,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Ripon Advance 
	Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) encouraged Americans on Friday to demonstrate their appreciation for the contributions of veterans on Veterans Day.
Noem encouraged citizens to volunteer at Veterans Administration facilities or local charities to show their “gratitude and respect.”
“Of course, there have been many instances where our nation has fallen short of giving veterans the admiration they deserve,” Noem said. “Widespread mismanagement, data manipulation and subpar care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) became a topic of national debate this year — and rightfully so. I was proud to help Congress pass a bill that the president signed to help address the VA’s most significant problems, but we must continue to implement this legislation and identify other areas where remedies are necessary.”
Noem said she has also worked to protect a VA facility in Hot Springs, S.D., that has provided critical care to thousands of veterans like Arthur Hilland, a World War II veteran.
Hilland’s family recently discovered a scrap book from his time in World War II that contained mementos from the places he was stationed, photos and newspaper clippings.
“While they’ll never know for sure, his family believes the scrapbook was perhaps a therapeutic exercise to cope with what he’d seen in battle,” Noem said. “Earlier this year, they donated the scrapbook to the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project — an effort to collect, preserve and make personal accounts of American veterans accessible so we too could benefit from the story of a man on the front line.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141106192329/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=4C27897A-11C3-44BB-B23A-62EC8B04F2C7,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Belle Fourche on November 12,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Kyle Holt of her Rapid City office will hold Mobile Office Hours in Belle Fourche on Wednesday, November 12.  If any Belle Fourche resident needs help with a federal agency or has comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman, they may schedule an appointment with Holt by calling 791-4673.
While in Belle Fourche, Holt will also be holding meetings with community organizations and local businesses.  To get immediate assistance, please contact Rep. Noem’s Rapid City office at 791-4673 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov. 
- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Belle Fourche         WHEN: Wednesday, November 12, 2014   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT: Please call Kyle Holt at 791-4673   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Belle Fourche residents may meet with Kyle Holt of Rep. Noem’s Rapid City office to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141106192332/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=98EEEEDE-7EBE-45B8-9FEA-E801E4C51856,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Sturgis on November 12,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Kyle Holt of her Rapid City office will hold Mobile Office Hours in Sturgis on Wednesday, November 12.  Holt will be available that day between 9:00AM and 10:00AM at the Sturgis Public Library (1040 2nd Street, #101, Sturgis) to meet with residents who need help with a federal agency or have concerns or comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman.
If area residents are unable to meet during the Mobile Office Hours from 9:00AM to 10:00AM, please contact Rep. Noem’s Rapid City office at 791-4673 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov to schedule a separate appointment or get immediate assistance. 
- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Sturgis         WHEN: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 – 9:00AM to 10:00AM (MT)   WHERE: Sturgis Public Library (1040 2nd Street, #101, Sturgis)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Sturgis residents may meet with Kyle Holt of her Rapid City office to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3df59bb9-5aa5-4af2-ba74-14db9ce59ce5,House and Senate Republicans Warn FCC Against Regulating Internet Like a 20th Century Monopoly,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC—House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Michigan) and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member John Thune (R-South Dakota) today led Republicans on their respective committees in writing to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler regarding the commission’s consideration of regulations that would impose 20th century common carrier rules on the Internet - a 21st century information service. Despite the failure of the commission’s two previous attempts to implement such rules, there remains a strong effort to advance policies that would hamper innovation, job creation, and investment in the widespread growth and expansion of the Internet.
“Recent proposals have suggested that the FCC can use its authority under Title II of the Communications Act to create legally enforceable rules to regulate Internet access. We believe this is beyond the scope of the FCC’s authority and would defy the plain reading of the statute,” wrote over three-dozen House and Senate Republicans.
They continued, “Reclassification would require the FCC to reverse nearly two decades of legally sound – and Supreme Court affirmed – reasoning that Internet access services are explicitly not Title II services. Justifying this course change is no easy task under current law. Among other harms, reclassification would threaten the jobs and investment made possible by the broadband industry, which the Communications Workers of America and the NAACP state accounted for more than $193 billion in capital investment and more than 270,000 jobs over the last three years.”
The House and Senate Republicans concluded, “Given the significant legal barriers to reclassification and the uncertainty that yet another appeal of the FCC’s rules would bring to the Internet, we strongly urge you to reject any such reclassification proposals. As you know, we are not alone in our concerns. In May, Rep. Gene Green led twenty Democratic members of the House in a letter calling on the commission to reject reclassification. We urge the commission to heed our bipartisan concerns.”
The letter was signed by all Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, including:
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI)
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD)
House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR)
Senate Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN)
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH)
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX)
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)
Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ)
Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
Rep. David McKinley (R-WV)
Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)
Rep. Billy Long (R-MO)
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)
Read the full letter here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=404408c2-8562-4713-834a-9429454b8586,Thune Launches Interactive Web Map Displaying Proposed EPA Overreach,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today launched a new interactive map on his website displaying South Dakota rivers, streams, wetlands, flood plains, and other waterways that could be under new federal regulation due to a proposed power-grab from the Obama administration.
“The Obama EPA’s power-grab over small and seasonal bodies of water could have a devastating economic impact on our state’s farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and businesses,” said Thune. “South Dakotans deserve to know where the EPA will target and with what regulations property owners will be forced to comply. I encourage all South Dakotans to explore the map to help better understand the impact this rule could have on properties throughout the state.”
The map displays analyses from the American Farm Bureau Federation, which compiled data from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 19 states to map areas the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could regulate under the new proposed definition of “waters of the U.S.” Thune has been fighting to stop the EPA’s proposal  from being finalized due to concerns that the rule would provide the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to begin regulating small and seasonal bodies of water that have typically been regulated at the state level. Thune’s map allows users to locate potentially regulated areas on their property.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=4a9bf51c-a6c9-4979-9721-8b3899cc0c08,Thune Statement on Presidents Carbon Emissions Agreement With China,2014-11-12,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today made the following statement in response to President Obama’s recent one-sided agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping on carbon emissions:
“President Obama’s agreement with China is a bad deal for hardworking American families and promises to deliver a gut punch to middle-class families harder and sooner than he vowed before the election. China has promised to potentially, maybe, possibly start reducing emissions after 2030, but this is a non-binding agreement and there is little reason to believe China will blunt its economic ambitions and comply. Over that period, China will build as many coal-burning power plants as possible while President Obama runs ours out of business, slashing American jobs and driving up energy prices.” 
China is the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide and is currently building one new coal-fired power plant nearly every week.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=52b5a53d-b5c8-436c-bbb3-b4f4de0286bd,Thune Statement on Presidents Net Neutrality Announcement,2014-11-10,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today made the following statement on the president’s call for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use Title II of the Communications Act of 1934 to craft additional net neutrality regulations:
“The president’s call for the FCC to use Title II to create new net neutrality restrictions would turn the Internet into a government-regulated utility and stifle our nation’s dynamic and robust Internet sector with rules written nearly 80 years ago for plain old telephone service. The president’s stale thinking would invite legal and marketplace uncertainty and perpetuate what has needlessly become a politically corrosive policy debate.
“It is critical that the Internet remain open and that consumers are protected. As it crafts new rules, the FCC should recognize the benefits of its highly successful light-touch regulatory approach to Internet policy and, most importantly, the FCC must follow the law.”
In May, Thune and the entire Senate Republican leadership team sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler saying, “Rather than attempting further legal contortions to encumber modern communications networks with last century’s rules, the Commission should work with the Congress to develop clear statutory authority and direction for the agency so that it can be a productive regulator for the 21st century marketplace",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E673E324-3D9F-483F-B4F1-CCFA40CD3118,Weekly Column: A Veteran's Story,2014-11-07,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"I first heard Arthur Hiland’s story from his daughters.  Born in Aberdeen, he was drafted to serve in the European Theatre during World War II.  He helped defeat the Nazis, earning him a Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, and then returned home to South Dakota.   He rarely, if ever, spoke of his time in the military, but his account of wartime America was never lost.
After he and his wife passed, his daughters found a scrapbook.  It weighed maybe 20 pounds and contained much of his wartime story:  His draft notice.  Mementos from the places he was stationed.  Pictures.  Newspaper clippings.  His discharge papers. 
To his daughters, this book has been a peek into their father’s past.  To you and me, it is a snapshot of our nation’s history from a man on the front line.
This week, we celebrate the women and men who, like Arthur, have served our nation and earned the title of “veteran.”  We remember their stories and formally recognize their contributions to the moments that have defined the American spirit and our nation’s resilience.
We can never repay our veterans for these contributions, but I encourage you to take the opportunity this Veterans Day to actively demonstrate your appreciation for their service.  Participate in your hometown’s Veterans Day celebration.  Volunteer at a VA medical facility, the VFW, or a local charity that helps veterans or military families.  There are countless ways to show your gratitude and respect.
Of course, there have been many instances where our nation has fallen short of giving veterans the admiration they deserve. Widespread mismanagement, data manipulation and subpar care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) became a topic of national debate this year – and rightfully so.  I was proud to help Congress pass a bill that the president signed to help address the VA’s most significant problems, but we must continue to implement this legislation and identify other areas where remedies are necessary. 
We also have work yet to do to protect the VA hospital in Hot Springs.  This facility has provided critical care to thousands of South Dakota veterans, including Arthur Hiland.  Like many of his comrades, he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.  He received treatment in Hot Springs and spent his career giving back to the facility, working as a switchboard operator and in the accounting department.
While they’ll never know for sure, his family believes the scrapbook was perhaps a therapeutic exercise to cope with what he’d seen in battle.  Earlier this year, they donated the scrapbook to the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project – an effort to collect, preserve, and make personal accounts of American veterans accessible so we too could benefit from the story of a man on the front line.
This Veterans Day, please join me in honoring our veterans and recognizing the sacrifices they’ve made – and continue to make – so that our freedom, safety and independence remain secure.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=372d5c0d-82a8-4c10-9bb8-712465b4f667,Honoring our Nations Heroes,2014-11-07,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		This month we pause to thank and pay tribute to the veterans and active members of the military who have risked life and limb protecting our freedoms. Their selfless service has played a defining role in shaping who we are as South Dakotans, and their leadership on veterans’ issues is crucial in guiding the discussion as we seek to provide for those who have answered the call to defend the freedoms of all Americans.
The service numbers for our state are remarkable, especially given South Dakota’s relatively small population. Approximately 32,000 South Dakotans served in World War I, 65,000 served in World War II, 26,000 in the Korean War, 28,000 in the Vietnam War, and 5,600 in the Gulf War. The men and women of Ellsworth Air Force Base continue to serve as a key component of our military capabilities, maintaining global reach and deterrence with the B-1B bomber and MQ-9 Reaper. And, the citizen-soldiers of the South Dakota National Guard have responded to domestic emergencies and have repeatedly deployed throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, always performing to the highest of standards.  
We owe our veterans a tremendous debt, and I am committed to ensuring that our veterans receive the resources they deserve for the sacrifices they have made for our country. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a solemn responsibility to be a leader in serving our veterans, especially when it comes to specialty care to address the lasting wounds of battle. There is no reason that the men and women who served should be subjected to unacceptably long wait times or drive hundreds of miles just to see a primary doctor for the flu or get a routine screening test.
Our veterans deserve better. That’s why I responded to the VA scandals this summer by introducing legislation to require the VA inspector general to investigate national wait times for veterans seeking medical appointments and treatment from the VA. My bill would also prohibit the VA from closing any health care facilities or utilizing funds to conduct Environmental Impact Statements concerning closures until the IG’s report is released.
I also supported the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, which seeks to reduce veteran wait times and travel for care. I will continue to work with my colleagues across the aisle to address the shortcomings in VA care, and I will work with VA Secretary McDonald to hold VA officials accountable to the men and women they aim to serve.
As Americans gather to celebrate Veterans Day and reflect on the service of those who have bravely served in our armed forces, let us redouble our efforts to support those who have served our nation. From simple acts of kindness to opportunities for employment, we as Americans must never take for granted the sacrifices undertaken by our veterans. These men and women have protected our nation and fought in the name of liberty all over the world. They deserve our sincere respect and gratitude. I encourage all South Dakotans to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and keep the brave members of our military and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to serve on our behalf.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=029A04E1-1D57-4B91-9B9C-28293EF22B13,Noem's Office Accepting Applications for Spring Interns,2014-11-06,2014,2014-11,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Representative Kristi Noem is accepting applications for spring internships in her Washington, D.C. office, as well as in her offices in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Watertown.
Student interns in Representative Noem’s office will assist staff with various constituent service and communications projects, as well as assist with legislative research.  Both South Dakota and Washington, D.C., internships provide students with first-hand knowledge of the legislative process and the countless other functions of a congressional office.
College students who are interested in interning in any of Representative Noem’s offices should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Christiana.Frazee@mail.house.gov by December 15.
For more information, contact Christiana Frazee at 202-225-2801.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=427E4A5D-3944-46B2-8F8F-C90E9D022EE6,"Weekly Column: Heritage, Honor, and Sovereignty",2014-10-31,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Last year, I had the opportunity to help honor hundreds of Native American code talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal.  These men were critical to our success in numerous battles during World War II, using their native languages to help protect, defend, and secure freedom.  There are hundreds of stories about their bravery and altruism, but I’ve never forgotten one article I read where an Oglala Lakota member explained that when he was first approached about becoming a code talker, he said:  “I don’t want rank.  I don’t want money.  I just want to do what I can to protect America and our way of life.”  To me, that statement reflects the selflessness and sense of duty that is embedded in the heritage and traditions of Native American communities.
November is Native American Heritage Month and in South Dakota, much of our own history is tied to Indian Country.  It’s one of the reasons I’ve remained committed to protecting tribal sovereignty, offering support for safer schools and an improved healthcare system on reservations, and promoting economic development in our Native American communities.
One of the issues I talk most about with tribal leaders is tribal sovereignty, or the ability for tribes to govern themselves.  One area of concern has been the expansion of authority the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has tried to impose on Indian Country.  The NLRB was set up to help oversee union elections, but it has become the bureaucratic arm of Big Labor.  By further expanding jurisdiction, NLRB threatened the foundation of Indian law and the principle of tribal sovereignty.  As a result, I introduced legislation to help combat the NLRB’s expansion by prohibiting the agency from regulating tribally owned businesses on reservation land. 
South Dakota tribal communities have also raised concerns about taxes on individuals who receive support from tribal governments.  When state or federal agencies offer things like school supplies to families in need, the beneficiaries are exempt from paying taxes on those items.  The law wasn’t clear, however, when it came to benefits offered by tribal governments.  Last year, I helped co-sponsor the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act to help reduce the tax burden for these families.  This bill was signed by the President in September.
I’m hopeful my tribal sovereignty bill, the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, and a provision I wrote in the Farm Bill that would permanently establish an Office of Tribal Relations within USDA will help bolster the economy in Indian Country, but I understand that more must be done.  Unemployment in Native American communities is far too high and incomes are too low.
Looking forward, I’ll also continue my work to address human trafficking across the country – and specifically in Native American communities.  A few weeks ago, I participated in the Wiconi Wawokiya Prayer Walk in Fort Thompson.  The experience was remarkable.  The prayers, singing and dancing helped focus our hearts and minds on healing for victims of abuse and trafficking.  The tribal members involved in this effort are inspiring and the event was extremely powerful.  It’s something I’ll never forget.  Project SAFE, Mita Maske Ti Ki, and others are working hard to protect young people within the Native American community and I am committed to doing all I can to support their efforts.
Native American heritage is woven into South Dakota’s story.  Tribal traditions have enriched our culture and played an important role in the American journey.  Please join me this month in recognizing and honoring the Native American heritage that exists here in South Dakota.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=b1f0ef83-1dcd-412f-8595-a698b0f0c058,Bat Endangered Species Listing Puts Forest Health at Risk,2014-10-31,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		Working cooperatively, private citizens, state officials, federal government, and an active timber industry in the Black Hills has successfully fought the spread of the pine beetle and maintained the health of the forest in the area. These efforts ensure that our forests provide healthy habitat for a variety of species and remain a destination for visitors around the world. Despite efforts to maintain our forestlands in South Dakota, proposals from federal agencies in Washington threaten to end important forest management practices that keep the Black Hills forestlands healthy.
In 2011, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) reached a secret sue-and-settle agreement with two radical environmental groups to require listing determinations on more than 250 species across the United States, including the northern long-eared bat. Northern long-eared bats are dying at alarming rates in parts of the country due to the spread of white-nose syndrome. Of the 39 states considered prime northern long-eared bat habitat, white-nose syndrome has only been found in 22 states, and has not been found in South Dakota.
Despite the lack of evidence suggesting white nose syndrome is a problem in our state, the FWS has proposed limiting forest management in the Black Hills to preserve the bats habitat. Unfortunately, these proposed regulations don’t address the real problem—eradicating white nose syndrome. Instead of dealing with the problem at hand, the FWS’s proposal will increase the potential for large scale wildfires, risk spreading the pine beetle epidemic, and will severely impact the Black Hills timber industry.
On October 14th, I sent a letter to the FWS with Representative Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) encouraging the agency to withdraw its proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat as endangered and to refocus its attention on combating white-nose syndrome.
Active forest management is critical to combating the spread of pine beetles in the Black Hills and cultivating a healthy forest, which provide a healthy habitat for the bats. As the South Dakota Department of Agriculture noted in its comments on FWS’s proposal, restricting forest management “would severely limit our ability to manage forests for insect and disease outbreaks, fuel reduction, and habitat for other species.” These restrictions would also significantly curtail the timber industry in the Black Hills, and may drive the industry out of the area altogether, at a cost of more than 1,500 jobs and $119 million in lost revenue to local economies.
While I firmly believe that listing the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species is inappropriate and that the FWS should instead concentrate its efforts on eradicating white-nose syndrome, if the FWS chooses to list the bat as endangered it must alter its guidelines to recognize the many benefits forest management provides to overall forest health and bat habitat. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to monitor the FWS’s proposals and advocate for common-sense policies that protect the forest and the animals that call it home.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=c39893d2-155b-4995-bc6d-2b1bfc24fd1b,Thune Calls on President to End Nearly Yearlong Vacancy at Helm of NHTSA,2014-10-29,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to act swiftly by nominating a candidate to serve as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Thune sent a similar letter in March, which remains unanswered. Despite bipartisan requests to fill this position promptly, and lingering questions about NHTSA’s role in the recall of millions of vehicles manufactured by General Motors and other automakers, NHTSA has been without a Senate-confirmed administrator since December 2013.
“We all want to ensure the safety of the American driving public,” said Thune. “Nominating a qualified individual to serve as the Administrator at NHTSA is an important step towards meeting this goal. While the Deputy Administrator and career staff have carried on the work of the agency, the task of assessing NHTSA’s shortcomings, communicating with Congress and the American public, and fully implementing any necessary improvements will be hampered without an official endorsement for this important safety position.”
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has jurisdiction over NHTSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Full text of the letter can be found below, and a copy of the March letter can be found here.
----
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
I write to follow up on my March 31, 2014, letter urging you to act swiftly to fill the vacant Administrator position at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in light of the issues surrounding the recall of millions of vehicles manufactured by General Motors and the latest safety issues pertaining to defective airbags in close to 8 million vehicles from various manufacturers.
While I have not yet received a formal response to my previous letter, Secretary Foxx informed me in June following testimony before the Committee, that the White House Office of Presidential Personnel was working to find the appropriate candidate.  In September, Senators Dean Heller and Claire McCaskill, leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, joined the call for you to fill the position quickly.  Regrettably, this has not yet happened, and NHTSA has now been without a Senate-confirmed Administrator for more than 320 days.
Recent media reports indicate that the Department of Transportation is undertaking a comprehensive review of NHTSA to determine whether it is effectively meeting its mandate to reduce the number of deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the nation’s roadways.   I request that your Administration share the results of this inquiry with the Senate Commerce Committee and other congressional committees of jurisdiction and provide briefings on your progress.  Nevertheless, it is imperative that the pending review not further delay filling the top vacant position at NHTSA. 
We all want to ensure the safety of the American driving public.  Nominating a qualified individual to serve as the Administrator at NHTSA is an important step towards meeting this goal.  While the Deputy Administrator and career staff have carried on the work of the agency, the task of assessing NHTSA’s shortcomings, communicating with Congress and the American public, and fully implementing any necessary improvements will be hampered without an official endorsement for this important safety position.
I therefore reiterate my request that you formally nominate a qualified individual to serve as the Administrator at NHTSA.  In turn, I commit to work with Chairman Rockefeller and our colleagues on the Commerce Committee to review any such nominee in a timely manner.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141026185057/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=0DE6D4BA-1EAF-49BE-97B6-875CF2AEA9E9,Noem in Watertown on October 27,2014-10-27,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in Watertown on Monday, October 27.  If you plan to cover any of her events, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Monday, October 27, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Visit Mellette Elementary School  WHEN:  Monday, October 27 – 10:45AM (CT)  WHERE:  Mellette Elementary School (619 2nd Street NW, Watertown)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be touring the school, meeting with students and teachers.
WHAT:  Noem to Speak to Watertown Kiwanis Club  WHEN:  Monday, October 27 – 12:00PM (CT)  WHERE:  Minervas Restaurant (1901 9th Avenue SW, Watertown)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be giving the Kiwanis Club an update of her work in Congress. 
WHAT:  Noem to Recognize Hamlin County Deputy Sheriff Jon Barthel with Challenge Coin  WHEN:  Monday, October 27 – 1:15PM (CT)  WHERE:  Watertown Office of Rep. Noem (505 12th Street SE, Watertown)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  In April 2014, Deputy Sheriff Barthel rescued a father and son from the cold waters of Lake Poinsett.  Rep. Noem will be recognizing Barthel with a Challenge Coin to recognize his heroic efforts. 
WHAT:  Noem to Address Watertown High School Government Class  WHEN:  Monday, October 27 – 2:00PM (CT)  WHERE:  Watertown High School (200 9th Street NE, Watertown)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be discussing the legislative process and her role in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=69CCCBC4-A4F4-41E4-83D6-1414ABFD0869,Weekly Column: Costly Policies,2014-10-24,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"I spoke with a young woman in the grocery store last March who had a hand full of coupons and a cart full of generic food.  We had a long conversation about how tough it was to make ends meet when electricity costs were so high.  Then again, the cost of almost everything was seemingly on the uptick.  Even the cart of groceries each of us was pushing was going to cost more than it did a few years ago – and we weren’t alone. 
More than half of people say they’re spending more on groceries this year than last.  It’s one of the reasons I pushed so hard for the Farm Bill to be passed.
Growing up, my Dad always told me that you can have a decade of good years and lose it all after one bad year.  The Farm Bill was designed to help control this risk and ensure disasters like Winter Storm Atlas wouldn’t wipe out a portion of our agriculture industry.  Without this safety net, you and I would probably be paying a lot more for fruits, vegetables, cereal, milk, meat and more every week.
Even with the Farm Bill passed, there’s more to do.  I’m constantly fighting back the EPA and other agencies to ensure producers, local businesses, and consumers aren’t paying more because of unnecessary regulations. We’ve already been able to stop the EPA’s talks of expanding dust regulations and OSHA’s attempt to regulate small family farms, but this administration keeps pushing new regulations – that means new costs for the average South Dakotan.
January 2014 represented the largest month-to-month increase in electricity costs in the last four years.  Still, the administration is moving forward on new greenhouse gas regulations that could increase electricity costs by $17 billion nationwide.  In South Dakota, families earning less than $50,000 per year already spend one-fifth of their after-tax income on energy, which is double the national average.  It’s unacceptable to further increase these costs for families.
It doesn’t have to be this way.  I filled up my tank in Watertown last week for less than $3.00 a gallon.  It’s been a while since there’s been prices like that.  We’re seeing these lower prices in large part because U.S. oil production is rising.  Because many states have streamlined their regulatory processes, oil production on state lands increased 61 percent between 2009 and 2013.  Meanwhile, production on federal lands fell 6 percent.  Just think what gas prices might be if we eliminated some of the unnecessary federal regulations too?
Poor policies out of Washington have also pushed the cost of healthcare up for many South Dakota families I’ve spoken to.  With healthcare costs expected to rise 6.8 percent in 2015, many South Dakotans are bracing for another round of premium increases.  I’ve been working on a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act with a patient-centered model that targets the primary drivers of healthcare costs.  Rather than costly mandates, my plan would infuse more competition into the marketplace, shift to an outcome-based reimbursement model, and limit frivolous lawsuits.
The fact of the matter is that our paychecks buy less today than they did a year ago – let alone five or 10 years ago.  And still, this administration is working to implement policies that make it harder to stretch a dollar.  I believe we ought to be eliminating costly regulations, not adding new ones.  We should be restoring genuine accountability to government and making sure Washington is doing more with less – just like families are.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=3ed998a0-4c75-47e3-bc52-7b7fcc99371e,Celebrating 125 Years of South Dakota,2014-10-24,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		Sunday, November 2, 2014, marks a historic milestone in South Dakota’s rich history, the 125th anniversary of its admission into the Union. On that day in 1889, the Dakota Territory was divided, simultaneously creating South and North Dakota. We kind-heartedly debate which was first to be admitted, but historians offer that President Benjamin Harrison shuffled the Act of Admission papers for the states to ensure that no one knew which state entered the Union first.
Regardless, we have much for which we should be proud. Since 1889, millions of Americans and international visitors have enjoyed the beauty of our great plains, crossed the rolling hills of the Missouri River, and marveled at the ruggedness of the Badlands. Others have joined in the thrill of an autumn pheasant hunt, curiously visited the Mitchell Corn Palace or Wall Drug, or have reveled in the beauty of the historic Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, and Crazy Horse Memorial.
To us, though, South Dakota is home, and in addition to the wondrous beauty God blessed upon the state, we are fortunate to live in welcoming communities, many of which were built by those who came here to make a better life for themselves. My grandfather immigrated to America from Norway in 1906 and was drawn to the freedom and opportunity that the young state of South Dakota offered. He started a small hardware store, exhibiting the entrepreneurial spirit that still resonates today on our main streets and fields throughout the state.
While many immigrated to South Dakota, we also celebrate the culture and traditions of our nine Native American tribes. The rich history of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota are woven into the fabric of South Dakota and are a significant part of what makes South Dakota such a unique and special place.
South Dakota’s dynamic and resourceful workforce has made our state the number one place in the country to do business, and our proud agricultural tradition helps feed the nation and the world. Yet it is South Dakota’s people, past and present, that are by far our greatest commodity. South Dakota’s 125-year history has been paved by the humble, generous, and hard-working men and women who lend a helpful hand to their neighbors and communities to build a better life for the next generation.
From small towns such as Murdo, where I grew up, to cities such as Sioux Falls, where I now live, and all points in between, there is no mistaking the genuine character of South Dakotans. We gather under the lights of Friday night games, at rodeos, local parades, powwows, and church gatherings for comradery and fellowship that provide support during good times and bad. South Dakotans are the people who selflessly lend a hand after a storm sweeps through the plains or help friends through a deployment. South Dakotans uphold the highest ideals of community.
As communities throughout the state continue celebrating this important milestone, I was proud to join Senator Tim Johnson in passing a resolution in the Senate on September 18, 2014, celebrating the 125th anniversary of statehood. As we look to the next generation to continue improving our communities and strengthening our state’s resolve, I offer my prayers that God will continue to bless our great state.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3ef9b8ad-4994-47af-aa75-cecaefd9e45f,Thune Calls on Forest Service to Increase 2015 Investment in Timber Harvest Program,2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service (FS) Chief Tom Tidwell calling on the FS to increase its 2015 investment in the timber harvest program to help fight mountain pine beetle infestation and maintain forest health in the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF).
In January, the FS announced an additional $1.5 million for BHNF timber harvest in 2014. Thune’s letter notes that increased investment in the timber harvest program has received national acclaim and the Black Hills received the 2013 “Chief’s Award” as a result of the innovation and increased ability for the BHNF to reduce the spread of mountain pine beetle.
“The timber industry is vitally important to the Black Hills region and supports hundreds of local jobs,” said Thune. “Additional support for the timber harvest program will allow more timber to be harvested and sold, stimulating the local economy, decreasing the chance of devastating wildfires, and combatting the pine beetle epidemic.”
Thune also introduced legislation in March of 2013, the Emergency Forest Rehabilitation and Restoration Act (S. 661), that would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement necessary procedures to thin more acres of federal forestland every year. The bill would also restrict the Forest Service from purchasing additional land for the next five years and redirect those funds to finance increased timber harvest.
The text of Thune’s letter follows:  __
October 23, 2014
Chief Tom Tidwell  U.S. Forest Service  1400 Independence Ave., SW  Washington, DC 20250
Dear Chief Tidwell:
I write today to thank you for your efforts to restore  the health of our forests and  request  your continued support for the timber harvest program, particularly in Region 2 and the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF).
The timber harvest program has proven to be a successful management tool that has improved forest health, especially in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Although the Black Hills forestlands continue to face a significant threat from bark beetles, including the mountain pine beetle, the Black Hills remain much healthier than many forests in the Rocky Mountain Region due in large part to the active management and timber harvests on federal, state, and private land within the Black Hills. 
In December 2012, the Forest Service announced it would begin implementing the Mountain Pine Beetle Response Project in the Black Hills National Forest.  This plan included designating 250,000 acres of the forest as “high risk for mountain pine beetle infestation” and outlined the Forest Service’s intention to thin 122,000 acres over five to seven years.  This project has received national acclaim and the Black Hills received the 2013 “Chief’s Award” as a result of the innovation and increased ability for the BHNF to reduce the spread of mountain pine beetle.  Increased investment in the timber harvest program is vital to meeting the goals of this project and retaining forest health in the Black Hills. 
Not only has the timber harvest program proven beneficial to forest health, it also has provided a major boost to the economy.  The timber harvest program contributes $120 million to the economy in the Black Hills, and provides 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills area.  Currently, ten forest products companies in the Black Hills region depend on adequate and consistent volume from the BHNF. 
It is for these reasons the Forest Service must continue its support forest management through the timber harvest program.  For the past 10 years, the Forest Service has made a significant investment in the timber harvest program.  Region 2 has exceeded timber sale targets for the past 11 years, and will exceed 95% of its timber sale target for Fiscal Year 2014.  I request that the Forest Service continue making necessary investments that would not only maintain but grow the timber harvest program, and ask that your timber target for the BHNF be increased to at least match the sold volume for Fiscal Year 2012. 
Thank you for your consideration of this request, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to improve the health of our nation’s forests.
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=9dc9a473-88c5-465c-967b-812899fe84fb,Thune & Shuster Support Use of Civil Reserve Air Fleet to Aid Ebola Efforts,2014-10-23,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urged President Obama to consider all existing options to protect U.S. citizens and deliver aid and resources to West Africa in the ongoing effort to contain the Ebola virus outbreak.
The committees’ top Republican lawmakers with jurisdiction over our nation’s transportation system wrote to the President to highlight the capabilities of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), a voluntary program involving the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and U.S. commercial air carriers to augment the DOD’s aircraft capability during a national defense or humanitarian crisis. During such times, the CRAF program enhances the DOD’s ability to move individuals and supplies to almost any region of the world.
Thune and Shuster, who have called for a temporary travel ban from affected West African countries, wrote that the utilization of CRAF carrier agreements would continue to allow relief supplies and qualified personnel to be carried to the West Africa region at the center of the Ebola outbreak, even with a travel ban or travel restrictions in place.
“CRAF carriers could replace, or even expand, payload capacity that has exited the market as foreign commercial airlines have reduced services to the region since the beginning of the crisis. The activation of CRAF would also be entirely consistent with your decision to deploy U.S. military personnel to West Africa, as the containment of Ebola and the humanitarian crisis are together a top national security priority,” wrote Thune and Shuster. They cited previous utilizations of CRAF carrier for similar humanitarian relief scenarios during and after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Rwandan genocide, and the earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima, Japan.
Thune and Shuster concluded, “As this crisis continues, it is imperative that all measures to protect Americans from further exposure to the disease be fully considered. At the same time, all available means to increase the level of aid to West Africa without unduly increasing the American public’s risk of exposure should be vigorously pursued.”
The complete letter is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141017003110/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=24F990B4-7E7E-4672-B0AF-9EAB571866E8,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Platte on October 22,2014-10-22,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, will hold Mobile Office Hours in Platte on Wednesday, October 22.  Vallery will be available that day between 9:45AM and 10:45AM at Dutch’s (2 West 7th Street, Platte) to meet with residents who need help with a federal agency or have concerns or comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman.
If area residents are unable to meet during the Mobile Office Hours from 9:45AM to 10:45AM, please contact Rep. Noem’s Sioux Falls office at 275-2868 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov to schedule a separate appointment or get immediate assistance. 
- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Platte        WHEN: Tuesday, October 22, 2014 – 9:45AM to 10:45AM (CT)   WHERE: Dutch’s (2 West 7th Street, Platte)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Platte residents may meet with Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141017003112/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=700BE7FB-2306-4A5F-BB86-B28FF5D13A04,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Gregory on October 21,2014-10-21,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, will hold Mobile Office Hours in Gregory on Tuesday, October 21.  Vallery will be available that day between 1:00PM and 2:00PM at Sissy’s Cafe (601 Main Street, Gregory) to meet with residents who need help with a federal agency or have concerns or comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman.
If area residents are unable to meet during the Mobile Office Hours from 1:00PM to 2:00PM, please contact Rep. Noem’s Sioux Falls office at 275-2868 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov to schedule a separate appointment or get immediate assistance. 
- TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Gregory       WHEN: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 – 1:00PM to 2:00PM (CT)   WHERE: Sissy’s Cafe (601 Main Street, Gregory)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Gregory residents may meet with Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024002733/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=1D8CCD33-E292-4CF9-AF2E-252A12731964,Noem in Aberdeen on October 21,2014-10-21,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in Aberdeen on Tuesday, October 21, to tour the Sanford Hospital and meet with the Aberdeen Development Corporation.  If you plan to cover either event, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Meet with Hospital Staff at Sanford  WHEN:  Tuesday, October 21 – 2:00PM (CT)  WHERE:  Sanford Hospital, Medical Center Conference Room (2905 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be meeting with hospital staff at Sanford Hospital.  Prior to the meeting, she will be touring the facility, but because the tour enters patient areas, press are not permitted to accompany.
WHAT:  Noem to Meet with Aberdeen Development Corporation  WHEN:  Tuesday, October 21 – 3:30PM (CT)  WHERE:  Aberdeen Development Corporation (416 Production Street N, Aberdeen)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be meeting with the Aberdeen Development Corporation to discuss top issues facing community businesses.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=D5EA1DEF-22BB-452D-BBC6-8C3B83F4988E,Bat proposal worries Black Hills timber industry,2014-10-20,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"WRAL 
	The Black Hills timber industry could suffer irreparable damage if the northern long-eared bat is added to the list of endangered species, according to a nonprofit trade group.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to add the bat to the endangered species list because of a fungus called white-nose syndrome that is killing bats in the eastern U.S.
The bat thrives in the Black Hills region of western South Dakota. A listing would restrict forest management, including timber harvest and mountain pine beetle management, said Ben Wudtke, forest programs manager for the Black Hills Forest Resource Association.
A possible restriction would be no harvesting of trees over three inches in diameter from April through October, when the bats are leaving the caves and mines in which they hibernate for the winter and moving to nests in trees.
""That's the prime time for doing forest management activities that improve the health of these forests,"" Wudtke told the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/1rmYZMB ).
U.S. Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem, both South Dakota Republicans, recently asked federal wildlife leaders to withdraw the proposed listing, saying it could endanger more than 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to make a decision next spring.
Officials are concerned about being able to manage the forest, but they also want to do what's best for the bat if it truly is endangered, said Kerry Burns, a U.S. Forest Service forest wildlife biologist in the Black Hills.
""We want to incorporate conservation measures that are truly going to make a difference,"" he said. ""The first and foremost threat is white-nose syndrome.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024002826/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=6E4DE58F-E6CC-472A-AEE5-ADA3929D2651,Noem in Madison on October 20,2014-10-20,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in Madison on Monday, October 20, to speak with students at Madison Central High School and address the Madison Rotary Club.  If you plan to cover either event, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Monday, October 20, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Speak at Madison High School  WHEN:  Monday, October 20 – 10:30AM (CT)  WHERE:  Madison Central High School, Auditorium (800 9th Street NE, Madison)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be speaking to the senior class about the legislative process and her role in Congress. 
WHAT:  Noem to Address Madison Rotary Club  WHEN:  Monday, October 20 – 12:00PM (CT)  WHERE:  Nicky’s Restaurant (1407 NW 2nd Street, Madison)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be giving the Rotary Club an update of her work in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=FC91ACF5-9685-4DF0-AF47-256EF2327A2D,Smiles abound as officials inaugurate cheese plant,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Tri-State Neighbor 
	Antoine Fievet told the crowd at the inauguration ceremony for the new Mini Babybel plant in Brookings, S.D., in early October that his great-great grandfather started the company in France in 1865.
The chairman and CEO of the Paris-based Bel Co. said that after all those years, the biggest investment ever by the longtime family company has been taking place in South Dakota. The Brookings plant, Bel’s third in the United States will use about 500,000 pounds of milk per day to produce 1.5 million Mini Babybel portions every day with a production capacity of more than 22 million pounds of cheese every year.
The milk will come from two dairy co-ops in the region, Dairy Farmers of America and Land O’ Lakes.
The $144 million facility, with the latest in technology and the size of four football fields, will employ 215 people with the workforce expected to increase to 250 by the end of the year. There is room at the 48-acre site to double the plant’s production sometime down the road and employ as many as 400 people.
Fievet, who spent some years in America after the company first moved to this country in 1970, said its mission is to “share smiles with families” and ensure that its products continue to be innovative. The innovation has been achieved with all of the new technology at the Brookings plant.
Frederic Nalis, president and CEO of Bel Brands USA, said sales of Mini Babybels were up 24 percent in 2013 and have tripled in the past five years. Such numbers convinced company officials that it made sense to build the plant in Brookings.
Sales in the U.S. account for 75 percent of the product sold outside of France, making the U.S. the No. 1 market for Mini Babybels in the world since the product was introduced in this country in 1979.
At the ribbon-cutting, held at the Swiftel Center because of the cold, windy weather that prevented the event from being held in a tent outside the plant just off Interstate 29, it was mostly a big “thank you” to all of the people involved – from South Dakota state officials to Brookings City Council members and all of those from Bel who chose South Dakota in January 2012 when the choice was down to two states.
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who grew up milking dairy cows on his family farm near Dell Rapids, described in detail a trip made to Bel Brands USA headquarters in Chicago in May 2011 when a delegation made a pitch to have the company build in Brookings.
He recalled the team of former state agriculture commissioner Walt Bones, South Dakota State University dairy science department head Vikram Mistry, state commissioner of economic development Pat Costello, Brookings Mayor Tim Reed and others who talked about the state’s business climate, the SDSU dairy program that could supply trained workers, the robust milking operations in the region and the dedicated and hardworking workforce.
Bel officials noted similarly in their comments that those were the main reasons for selecting Brookings.
Expanding on those selling points, Daugaard noted that the number of dairy cows, currently at about 97,000 in the state, is expected to increase by about 20,000 to 117,000 cows through more and expanded dairies already permitted.
That’s still far below the approximately 250,000 dairy cows South Dakota had during its peak in the 1960s. However, the numbers fell as low as 80,000 before the current rebound. The governor also reported that seven California dairy producers and one from Wisconsin currently are looking at moving operations here.
He said the numbers show the state’s commitment to continue to work to help Bel and others in the state long after they become operational.
“Our door remains open, and we want to continue to help you find success,” Daugaard told the French delegation.
He also said the SDSU dairy department is one of only two in the nation with a program offering both training in dairy production and dairy processing.
He said the hardworking people of South Dakota are the state’s biggest selling point, adding and that he often hears leaders of other companies say they have their most productive plants in the state because of those employees.
“In January of 2012 when you chose Brookings, you made us smile,” Daugaard said. “Two years later, we are still smiling.”
Among those smiling were U.S. Sen. John Thune and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, both South Dakota Republicans.
Thune joked that with all of the Norwegians, Germans and Swedes in the state, “we are delighted to now have our first French settlement.”
On the federal level, he said, his office will continue to work on securing trade agreements and expanding export markets.
Noem complimented Francine Moudry, who oversaw the two-year construction project, calling her a “rock star” in the way she handled her duties and became the face of the company in Brookings and the state. Moudry plans to stay in Brookings with plans to lead other possible company construction efforts around the country.
Noem said she thinks the new federal farm bill gives the dairy industry a stable safety net that can benefit producers and processing companies.
Reed said it’s so nice after the recent process of attracting the company and then having the structure being built that the operation and its employees are finally a part of the community.
He said that when he first read and learned about the company, he knew it should move to his city because of its reputation for caring for the environment, its workers and its customers.
“Every time I drive by the plant, I smile, too,” Reed said.
The Mini Babybels, also manufactured at a company plant in Leitchfield, Ky., are individually wrapped in signature red wax and cellophane and come in seven varieties. The product is sold in grocery and specialty cheese stores in six-, 10- and 14-count multipacks and also is available in new single-serving units in convenience and drug stores. The company’s Laughing Cow cheese wedges also are made at Leitchfield.
The company has 28 production facilities in 25 countries and posted sales of $3.5 billion last year. It employs almost 11,000 people. The other U.S. plant is in Little Chute, Wis.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=05C73262-BF30-4E8C-B623-B655BFF09035,Weekly Column: Tackling Diabetes,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"This last week, I met with a nine-year-old girl from Black Hawk.  Her name was Lauren.  She is an incredible young lady and I had a great time getting to meet her.  But Lauren and I were there to visit about a very serious issue. Lauren, like more than 200,000 young people in America, has diabetes.
Each year, tens of thousands of Americans – including many children – learn they have diabetes.  While nearly 10 percent of Americans have the disease, there are still a number of misperceptions surrounding diabetes and what it means for everyday life.  That’s why I wanted to take a moment this week to write about some things each of us should be aware of regarding diabetes.
First, there are two kinds.  Type 1 diabetes, which is what Lauren and my nephew Hunter have, occurs when a person’s immune system destroys cells that release insulin.  Without insulin, we can’t absorb sugar, which is needed to produce energy.  With Type 2 diabetes, people aren’t able to use the insulin that is produced right away and over time, the pancreas may begin making less and less insulin.  The majority of people with diabetes have Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented and children with a family history of Type 1 diabetes or certain genetic factors can be at increased risk.  Type 2 diabetes can be delayed, if not prevented altogether, by maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, and exercising.
There are different ways to treat diabetes.  Both Lauren and Hunter, for instance, wear an insulin pump.  This essentially gives them short-acting insulin 24 hours a day so their sugar levels are kept in check.  Other people may take shots, oral medication or adjust their eating habits to help control blood-sugar levels. 
Some with Type 2 diabetes may be able to make lifestyle adjustments that allow them to reverse the diagnoses.  But for those with Type 1 diabetes, there is currently no cure.  Scientists are working very hard, however, to identify one for kids like Lauren and Hunter and advancements have been made.
During our visit, I asked Lauren if there was anything else she wanted people to know about diabetes.  She said, “Diabetes is not contagious, so don’t be scared to be around someone with it.”  To me, that comment was another reminder that we can all do more to debunk myths and increase awareness about diabetes.  In South Dakota, Governor Daugaard has declared October as “Diabetes Awareness Month” after learning about Lauren’s brave efforts to take on diabetes. 
I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to have folks focusing on diabetes – especially childhood diabetes – this month.  I still remember when our family found out Hunter had diabetes.  We all had so many questions and those first few months after he was diagnosed were a crash course for all of us.  To be honest, it’s something our family continues to learn about as he grows and as new technologies and treatments become available to him.  But he’s been such a great kid through it all and he’s turning out to be an incredible young man.
Hunter has been an inspiration to our family and I’m thankful we have young people like him and Lauren out there, encouraging other kids who have been diagnosed, moving researchers and lawmakers to tackle this disease, and inspiring each of us.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141017003114/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=F8964DBA-CB18-4B0B-8587-A73E3C9F9E8F,Noem in Fort Thompson for Wiconi Wawokiya Prayer Walk October 17,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in Fort Thompson for the Wiconi Wawokiya Prayer Walk on Friday, October 17.  If you plan to cover the event, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Friday, October 17, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Participate in Wiconi Wawokiya Prayer Walk
WHEN:  Friday, October 17 – 12:30PM (CT)
WHERE:  Wiconi Wawokiya Shelter (101 Red Horse Road, Fort Thompson)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be participating in the walk, which draws attention to healing against child abuse, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, human trafficking, and broken relationships.  Rep. Noem will also offer a prayer for healing and comfort at the conclusion of the walk.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=182ea457-445d-4f8d-96a2-dc1be1037bc4,Travel Ban Will Better Protect Americans From the Spread of Ebola,2014-10-17,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		As the old English proverb says, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.” Responsiveness and preparedness are critical to containing and eliminating dangerous threats and epidemics across our country. The recent outbreak and spread of the Ebola virus, including cases in the U.S., are raising serious concerns among government officials and the American people about our country’s ability to protect the public from the transmission of the Ebola virus and other infectious diseases.
Americans have been asked to believe that the administration has the Ebola outbreak under control, but the latest revelation that a healthcare worker in Dallas boarded an aircraft to Cleveland after treating an Ebola patient who later died only underscores the need for the U.S. government to reevaluate our response and preparedness strategy for combatting this deadly virus.
To better protect the public from additional cases of Ebola in the U.S., which has proven difficult to manage even in a hospital setting, I believe the U.S. should institute a ban on travelers who either live in or have recently traveled to Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia from entering the country. A temporary travel ban for individuals traveling from these most affected countries in West Africa would give the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more time to get its arms around the problem, and understand how to reliably contain the virus domestically as efforts to contain and treat the outbreak continue overseas. I believe a temporary freeze on Visa holders traveling from Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia will also help contain the spread of the virus. Like the travel ban, the visa freeze should be re-evaluated every 30 days with a consideration to extend or expand it.
While some in the international community have expressed concern about how a travel ban could impact aid workers traveling to and from certain Africa countries, I believe there are other measures that can be taken to transport aid workers and supplies into affected countries. Of course, a travel ban is only part of the solution. Once such restrictions are imposed, we must continue to vigorously combat the disease at its source and strengthen screening of international travelers seeking to enter the U.S. from high-risk regions.
On October 14th, I sent a letter with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson requesting detailed information about their plans and protocols to prevent further transmission of Ebola and other infectious diseases within the U.S., especially given our interconnected transportation network.
As the top Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over our nation’s transportation network, I am committed to pressing for common-sense measures to better prevent the spread of Ebola here in the U.S. and to containing and treating the outbreak overseas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=3D6488A5-1B13-4790-96B1-6E4C3F679885,Legislators highlight impact of listing northern long-earned bat as endangered,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Ripon Advance 
	Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) said on Tuesday that the Interior Department and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) should withdraw a proposed endangered species listing for the northern long-eared bat.
Noem and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said in letters to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Fish and Wildlife Services Director Dan Ashe that there was insufficient supporting data to list the long-eared bat as endangered, and that its listing could threaten forest health and jobs.
“The proposed listing of the long-eared bat as endangered and corresponding guidance provides a significant and unnecessary distraction from the real issues at hand,” Noem said. “While white nose syndrome is a species-threatening disease that has jeopardized northern long-eared bat populations in many states, the proposal focuses primarily on habitat – a non-factor according to many researchers. The misguided proposal not only avoids the primary cause of the problem, but also restricts active forest management, endangering more than 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills area. Any effort to preserve the species should focus on the disease.”
Thune said he was “deeply concerned” with the decision to list the long-eared bat as endangered alongside proposed forest management guidance that could harm the economy in Black Hills, S.D.
“These proposed regulations don’t address the real problem — eradicating white nose syndrome,” Thune said. “The long-eared bat’s population decline is due to the white-nose syndrome and is not related to current forest management practices. If FWS and the Interior Department are serious about protecting both the northern long-eared bat and the Black Hills National Forest — it will repeal its proposed listing, focus on addressing white-nose syndrome and continue active forest management, including timber sales.”
Black Hills Forest Resource Association Programs Manager Ben Wudtke said the restrictions are an “eminent threat” to forest product companies and sustainable forest management in the Black Hills.
“These restrictions on forest management are proposed despite acknowledgement by the FWS that timber harvest activities have not posed any threat to this species and may actually improve habitat used by the long-eared bat,” Wudtke said. “It is imperative the FWS change their interim guidance to reflect the benefits of active forest management for long-eared bat habitat in western forests.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=7CE536C6-FDE0-4F32-872F-6A9D7042B6FE,SD Republicans don't want bat listed as endangered,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Associated Press 
	Two top South Dakota lawmakers are calling on federal authorities to withdraw a proposed listing of northern long-eared bats as endangered.
U.S. Senator John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem sent a letter to U.S. Interior Department and Fish and Wildlife Service leaders on Tuesday saying there is insufficient supporting data to warrant the listing.
The Republican lawmakers say the proposal would restrict forest management and threaten more than 1,500 jobs in the area of Black Hills National Forest. They say regulations could harm the timber industry.
Thune and Noem say the proposed regulations wouldn't address white nose syndrome, which officials say has killed more than 5.5 million bats across the Northeast and Canada. The lawmakers say the agencies should focus on combating the syndrome rather than increasing forest regulations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141010000724/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=70069701-C227-43D0-BB4D-DC747CDAEA6F,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Onida on October 16,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, will hold Mobile Office Hours in Onida on Thursday, October 16.  Vallery will be available that day between 1:30PM and 2:30PM at the Phoenix Community Center (110 S. Main Street, Onida) to meet with residents who need help with a federal agency or have concerns or comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman.
If area residents are unable to meet during the Mobile Office Hours from 1:30PM to 2:30PM, please contact Rep. Noem’s Watertown office at 878-2868 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov to schedule a separate appointment or get immediate assistance. 
- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Onida       WHEN: Thursday, October 16, 2014 – 1:30PM to 2:30PM (CT)   WHERE: Phoenix Community Center (110 S. Main Street, Onida)    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Onida residents may meet with Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141024001256/http://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/videos?ID=050ba3d8-55d7-4f9e-94e3-728ffcc35b82,Thune Discusses Ebola Threat with Laura Ingraham,2014-10-16,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, joins the Laura Ingraham Show to discuss his call for a temporary travel ban from key parts of West Africa to prevent the spread of Ebola in the U.S.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6c6ac94b-bb1e-4c2c-b7f0-2a9c6e379f79,Thune & Shuster Call for Travel Ban in Response to Ebola Outbreak,2014-10-15,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		To help contain the current outbreak of the Ebola virus, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Ranking Member John Thune (R-South Dakota) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) today called for a temporary travel ban from affected West African countries. Additionally, Thune and Shuster have asked the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security to provide an accounting of their plans to help protect the public from the transmission of the Ebola virus or any other infectious disease via the nation’s transportation network. In their October 14th letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Thune and Shuster point out that our national and international transportation networks are vital to the function of our economy and the American way of life, but that the recent events in Texas have tragically shown that these same networks can also serve as conduits for dangerous pathogens such as the Ebola virus. 
“With Ebola spreading even within the hospital setting, we should not delay in taking additional measures to prevent individuals carrying the virus from traveling to the U.S. We believe a temporary travel ban for such individuals who live in or have traveled from certain Western African countries is reasonable and timely,” said Ranking Member Thune and Chairman Shuster. “Additionally, we sent a letter yesterday to Secretaries Foxx and Johnson requesting detailed information about their plans and protocols to prevent further transmission of Ebola and other infectious diseases within the U.S., especially given our interconnected transportation network. It is the job of the Congressional oversight committees to ensure that the administration is doing everything it can to address such threats.”  
Thune and Shuster’s request to the departments yesterday states, “While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk of an Ebola outbreak in the United States is remote, we are concerned that even a relatively limited number of cases within the United States could result in harmful disruptions to our economy and society. As such, we believe it is important that we thoroughly and dispassionately assess the federal government’s readiness to prevent or mitigate the harms associated with pandemics.” The letter requests the following information:
1. A full accounting of your Departments’ efforts to date to prevent the further introduction of the Ebola virus into the United States from West African “hot spots” and any other regions from which the virus might enter the United States.   
2. A description of your Departments’ efforts to coordinate Ebola screening processes at key international transit points between the United States and West Africa with counterpart agencies in other nations.  
3. A description of contingency plans your respective Departments have developed to prevent transmission of the Ebola virus or other infectious pathogens within the United States. 
4. A description of your efforts with transportation companies and their employees to detect and prevent the spread of infectious diseases including the Ebola virus.   
5. A description of contingency plans developed to combat infectious diseases more easily transmissible than Ebola virus, such as airborne pathogens.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=23E8BF7A-FA3F-41FC-A607-BC88E632653F,Family Heritage Alliance holds 4th Annual STAND Banquet,2014-10-14,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Black Hills Fox (KEVN) 
	The Family Heritage Alliance held its 4th Annual STAND Banquet Tuesday night to share its members' values of faith, family and freedom.
The keynote speaker was former presidential candidate Senator Rick Santorum.  More than 600 people were in attendance, four of them being honored, including Sen. John Thune and Rep. Kristi Noem.  The executive director says it is a night to stand for the values they triumph across the state of South Dakota.
Executive Director Dale Bartscher says, ""We are here to enthuse, excite, to inspire the men and women in the house to hold fast to our family values that are under great attack in society today. So these are champions in the house here today, and we're honored to have them here.""
The event is the only fundraiser for the Family Heritage Alliance.  Their goal was to raise $200,000.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=4F40C0FF-D3FA-4651-9278-91CE441FEB3A,"Thune, Noem to FWS: Listing Bat as Endangered Threatens Forest Health, Jobs",2014-10-14,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe calling on the FWS to withdraw its proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as endangered due to insufficient supporting data to warrant the listing.
“I am deeply concerned by the FWS’s pending decision to list the northern long-eared bat as endangered while simultaneously proposing flawed forest management guidance that could significantly harm the Black Hills economy,” said Thune. “These proposed regulations don’t address the real problem—eradicating white nose syndrome. The long-eared bat’s population decline is due to the white-nose syndrome and is not related to current forest management practices. If FWS and the Interior Department are serious about protecting both the northern long-eared bat and the Black Hills National Forest—it will repeal its proposed listing, focus on addressing white-nose syndrome, and continue active forest management, including timber sales.”
“The proposed listing of the long-eared bat as endangered and corresponding guidance provides a significant and unnecessary distraction from the real issues at hand,” said Rep. Noem. “While White Nose Syndrome is a species-threatening disease that has jeopardized northern long-eared bat populations in many states, the proposal focuses primarily on habitat – a non-factor according to many researchers. The misguided proposal not only avoids the primary cause of the problem, but also restricts active forest management, endangering more than 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills area. Any effort to preserve the species should focus on the disease.”
""The restrictions proposed by the FWS are an eminent threat to forest products companies and sustainable forest management in the Black Hills, and will do nothing to address the disease that is the sole cause for concern with this species,” said Ben Wudtke, Forest Programs Manager of the Black Hills Forest Resource Association. ""These restrictions on forest management are proposed despite acknowledgement by the FWS that timber harvest activities have not posed any threat to this species and may actually improve habitat used by the long-eared bat. It is imperative the FWS change their interim guidance to reflect the benefits of active forest management for long-eared bat habitat in western forests.""
Listing the long-eared bat as endangered and the ensuing regulatory restrictions on forest management could effectively end active management in the Black Hills National Forest, which will cause declining forest health, increase the likelihood of large scale wildfires, and severely impact the timber industry in the Black Hills. Thune and Noem’s letter cites the more than 1,500 jobs that contribute over $119 million to local economies in the Black Hills that will be jeopardized if these regulations are put into place.
Text of Thune and Noem’s letter is below:
__
October 14, 2014
Secretary Sally Jewell  U.S. Department of the Interior  1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240
Director Dan Ashe  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Secretary Jewell and Director Ashe:
We are writing regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposal, published in the Federal Register (FR Volume 78, Issue 191, October 2, 2013), to list the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as endangered due to the effects of white-nose syndrome (WNS). 
It is our concern that the FWS has insufficient supporting data to warrant listing the NLEB as an endangered species, particularly given the absence of WNS in so much of its range.  In addition, we believe the FWS failed to adequately gather and consider credible information available from state government entities and other non-federal sources before proposing to list the NLEB.
According to the proposed listing, WNS was recognized by the FWS as the single overriding factor in the listing decision: “WNS alone has led to dramatic and rapid population level effects on the northern long-eared bat” and “the species likely would not be imperiled were it not for this disease.”  At the same time, the Service recognizes that the distribution of WNS covers only portions of the NLEB’s range in the U.S. and abroad.  In fact, as of this past August, WNS has never been documented in 17 of the 39 states within the NLEB’s U.S. range, and the idea of WNS expanding across the entirety of the NLEB range is only speculation. 
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture joined the FWS in identifying WNS as the primary threat to the NLEB, stating in its comments on the listing that “research indicates that northern long-eared bat population reductions appear to be disease driven rather than habitat loss driven.”  However, the majority of the restrictive conservation measures recommended in the Interim Conference and Planning Guidance (ICPG) apply not to disease but to habitat-related activities, including forest management.  These recommendations are especially troubling since the FWS findings show that forest management does not have a significant negative impact on the species. 
Although appropriate measures should be taken to stem the spread of WNS, the proposed restrictions on forest management in the ICPG are overly burdensome and may actually lead to deterioration of NLEB habitat.  The South Dakota Department of Agriculture shares our concerns and explains in its comments: “We are concerned that the ICPG is overly restrictive … The measures would severely limit our ability to manage forests for insect and disease outbreaks, fuel reduction, and habitat for other species.”  Extensive buffers and seasonal and other management restrictions identified in the ICPG will have significant negative impacts on forest management activities throughout the Black Hills region.
Contrary to what the ICPG recommendations imply, forest management activities can significantly improve NLEB habitat, which was also highlighted in the proposed listing (FR Volume 78, Issue 191, October 2, 2013). Additionally, accumulation of fuel load in the absence of adequate forest management will result in wildfires burning much hotter, potentially destroying larger areas of suitable NLEB foraging and summer roosting habitat. 
If the FWS determines that the NLEB is an endangered species, we request that any listing focus on addressing WNS and not forest management activities that are unrelated to the spread of WNS. Prior to any listing decision, the ICPG should be revised to recognize the many benefits of responsible forest management throughout the western range of the NLEB, and the overly burdensome restrictions on forest management activities should be removed. 
More than 1,500 jobs, which contribute more than $119 million to local economies in the Black Hills region, are at stake.  If the restrictions outlined in the ICPG are adopted, those communities would suffer devastating losses with no real benefit to the NLEB.  The most constructive step the FWS could take to benefit the NLEB would be to focus on addressing WNS, which is the primary threat to the species.
Sincerely,
Cc: Tom Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=047b47b0-2975-401e-8183-e0e83928f58a,"Thune, Noem to FWS: Listing Bat as Endangered Threatens Forest Health, Jobs",2014-10-14,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe calling on the FWS to withdraw its proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as endangered due to insufficient supporting data to warrant the listing.
“I am deeply concerned by the FWS’s pending decision to list the northern long-eared bat as endangered while simultaneously proposing flawed forest management guidance that could significantly harm the Black Hills economy,” said Thune. “These proposed regulations don’t address the real problem—eradicating white nose syndrome. The long-eared bat’s population decline is due to the white-nose syndrome and is not related to current forest management practices. If FWS and the Interior Department are serious about protecting both the northern long-eared bat and the Black Hills National Forest—it will repeal its proposed listing, focus on addressing white-nose syndrome, and continue active forest management, including timber sales.”
“The proposed listing of the long-eared bat as endangered and corresponding guidance provides a significant and unnecessary distraction from the real issues at hand,” said Rep. Noem. “While White Nose Syndrome is a species-threatening disease that has jeopardized northern long-eared bat populations in many states, the proposal focuses primarily on habitat – a non-factor according to many researchers. The misguided proposal not only avoids the primary cause of the problem, but also restricts active forest management, endangering more than 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills area. Any effort to preserve the species should focus on the disease.”
""The restrictions proposed by the FWS are an eminent threat to forest products companies and sustainable forest management in the Black Hills, and will do nothing to address the disease that is the sole cause for concern with this species,” said Ben Wudtke, Forest Programs Manager of the Black Hills Forest Resource Association. ""These restrictions on forest management are proposed despite acknowledgement by the FWS that timber harvest activities have not posed any threat to this species and may actually improve habitat used by the long-eared bat. It is imperative the FWS change their interim guidance to reflect the benefits of active forest management for long-eared bat habitat in western forests.""
Listing the long-eared bat as endangered and the ensuing regulatory restrictions on forest management could effectively end active management in the Black Hills National Forest, which will cause declining forest health, increase the likelihood of large scale wildfires, and severely impact the timber industry in the Black Hills. Thune and Noem’s letter cites the more than 1,500 jobs that contribute over $119 million to local economies in the Black Hills that will be jeopardized if these regulations are put into place.
 
Text of Thune and Noem’s letter is below:  __
October 14, 2014
Secretary Sally Jewell  U.S. Department of the Interior  1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240
Director Dan Ashe  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  1849 C Street, NW  Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Secretary Jewell and Director Ashe:
We are writing regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposal, published in the Federal Register (FR Volume 78, Issue 191, October 2, 2013), to list the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as endangered due to the effects of white-nose syndrome (WNS). 
It is our concern that the FWS has insufficient supporting data to warrant listing the NLEB as an endangered species, particularly given the absence of WNS in so much of its range.  In addition, we believe the FWS failed to adequately gather and consider credible information available from state government entities and other non-federal sources before proposing to list the NLEB.
According to the proposed listing, WNS was recognized by the FWS as the single overriding factor in the listing decision: “WNS alone has led to dramatic and rapid population level effects on the northern long-eared bat” and “the species likely would not be imperiled were it not for this disease.”  At the same time, the Service recognizes that the distribution of WNS covers only portions of the NLEB’s range in the U.S. and abroad.  In fact, as of this past August, WNS has never been documented in 17 of the 39 states within the NLEB’s U.S. range, and the idea of WNS expanding across the entirety of the NLEB range is only speculation. 
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture joined the FWS in identifying WNS as the primary threat to the NLEB, stating in its comments on the listing that “research indicates that northern long-eared bat population reductions appear to be disease driven rather than habitat loss driven.”  However, the majority of the restrictive conservation measures recommended in the Interim Conference and Planning Guidance (ICPG) apply not to disease but to habitat-related activities, including forest management.  These recommendations are especially troubling since the FWS findings show that forest management does not have a significant negative impact on the species. 
Although appropriate measures should be taken to stem the spread of WNS, the proposed restrictions on forest management in the ICPG are overly burdensome and may actually lead to deterioration of NLEB habitat.  The South Dakota Department of Agriculture shares our concerns and explains in its comments: “We are concerned that the ICPG is overly restrictive … The measures would severely limit our ability to manage forests for insect and disease outbreaks, fuel reduction, and habitat for other species.”  Extensive buffers and seasonal and other management restrictions identified in the ICPG will have significant negative impacts on forest management activities throughout the Black Hills region.
Contrary to what the ICPG recommendations imply, forest management activities can significantly improve NLEB habitat, which was also highlighted in the proposed listing (FR Volume 78, Issue 191, October 2, 2013). Additionally, accumulation of fuel load in the absence of adequate forest management will result in wildfires burning much hotter, potentially destroying larger areas of suitable NLEB foraging and summer roosting habitat. 
If the FWS determines that the NLEB is an endangered species, we request that any listing focus on addressing WNS and not forest management activities that are unrelated to the spread of WNS. Prior to any listing decision, the ICPG should be revised to recognize the many benefits of responsible forest management throughout the western range of the NLEB, and the overly burdensome restrictions on forest management activities should be removed. 
More than 1,500 jobs, which contribute more than $119 million to local economies in the Black Hills region, are at stake.  If the restrictions outlined in the ICPG are adopted, those communities would suffer devastating losses with no real benefit to the NLEB.  The most constructive step the FWS could take to benefit the NLEB would be to focus on addressing WNS, which is the primary threat to the species.
Sincerely,
Cc: Tom Tidwell, Chief, U.S. Forest Service",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=52261DF4-6B12-44CE-BCDA-FD4116E5C610,Weekly Column: Think Pink,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"We dread the idea of hearing  the word “cancer.”  How could we not?  It indicates a battle, a life-threatening illness, an uncertainty about the future.  It is difficult to watch a loved one go through it; I can’t imagine what it would be like to take on that battle myself.
Most families in South Dakota have been impacted in one way or another by cancer.  This month, we turn our attention specifically to breast cancer, which more than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with each year.  Except for skin cancers, this is the most common cancer among American women, although it’s important to note that men can be diagnosed with it as well.  In 2013, there were 600 reported cases of breast cancer and more than 100 breast cancer-related deaths in South Dakota.
Through the increased awareness each October and the dedication of advocacy groups and medical researchers, we are gaining more and more information about how this disease works.  This information gives us better tools to detect breast cancer early and moves us closer to finding a cure.
Breast cancer knows no boundaries.  It is not constrained by age, gender, or geographic location.  Nonetheless, there are factors that put you at greater risk.  Being a woman and getting older are the most common risk factors.  A woman’s risk of breast cancer also increases if she has a mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with it.  On the other side of the coin, getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, and limiting alcohol intake can help lower your risk.
Other than changing your lifestyle, the most important thing you can do is detect it early.  The National Breast Cancer foundation has created one tool to help you make an early detection plan.  Just visit www.earlydetectionplan.org.  98 percent of people who detect breast cancer early survive past the critical five-year milestone.
Today, there are more than 3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.  South Dakotan Debbie Reeves is one of these survivors.  Despite the challenges, Debbie has seemed to stay incredibly positive.  Earlier this year, she told news outlets, “Cancer is no fun, but you learn from it…. There were so many gifts that came out of breast cancer.  My children’s faith grew and my husband and I are just great.  And although I would never, ever want to do it again, I would do it again in a heartbeat to get gifts like that.”
For many survivors, the battle does not end after a clean scan.  The physical, emotional, and even spiritual healing may continue for years to come.  If you are a survivor, there are resources for you throughout South Dakota.  Sanford Health has a Cancer Survivorship Program, which includes Embracing Life retreats for survivors of breast cancer.  Avera has programs as well, including their “A Time to Heal” series. 
This month, please join me in thinking pink.  Use this as motivation to put together an early detection plan.  Urge your friends and family to do the same.  Learn more about breast cancer and how it could be impacting your mom, your neighbor, or you through resources like www.beyondtheshock.com.  Find out how you can be a support system for those impacted. Get involved in one of the many breast cancer awareness activities throughout South Dakota this month.  Together, we can beat this.
I’ll close this column with this message for women facing the battle.  It is a line from a tribute written by Olivia Newton-John, herself a survivor of breast cancer:  “Fight each round.  Take it on the chin.  And never, never, never ever give in.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=b9726647-a0b4-484a-a27c-4681784a262b,South Dakotas Pheasant Hunting Future,2014-10-10,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		Like many who enjoy the outdoors, I always look forward to the third Saturday in October, which has become an unofficial state holiday and time-honored tradition in South Dakota, our annual pheasant hunting season opener. This year, the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks forecast a 76 percent increase in the pheasant population over last year’s dismal numbers. This is great news for hunters looking to shout “rooster” as they walk through the fields with family and friends on opening day.
Although the Chinese Ringneck Pheasant is a resilient and hardy bird, shrinking nesting habitat and lack of cover from South Dakota’s harsh winter weather directly impact the number of pheasants we have to hunt each year. The most significant loss of pheasant habitat has occurred due to the decrease in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres enrolled in South Dakota.
In 2007, South Dakota had approximately 1.5 million acres enrolled in CRP. As of October 1, 2014, South Dakota enrolled 883,000 acres in the program. Although new land has been enrolled and some expiring CRP land reenrolled, South Dakota has experienced a decline of more than 600,000 acres in CRP from its peak of 1.5 million acres. 
Without a doubt, the habitat decline is responsible for the decrease in pheasant numbers over the past several years. Fewer pheasants also mean lost revenue for many small rural communities across the state that depend on business from the pheasant hunting boom.
While it is important to take the habitat decline seriously, I believe we have several reasons to be optimistic about the future of South Dakota pheasant hunting. I worked to make the 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Title more flexible to provide an attractive alternative to growing crops on less productive land. My Farm Bill sodsaver provision closes a crop insurance loophole, which will help preserve our remaining native grassland acres important to nesting pheasants, ducks, grouse, prairie chickens, and nongame bird species.
I also believe the Governor’s Pheasant Habitat Work Group, established earlier this year, has prepared several thoughtful proposals to encourage much-needed habitat increases. Pheasants Forever also launched a field office in Brookings to team up with South Dakota State University to enhance wildlife habitat and restore South Dakota’s pheasant numbers. 
While my favorite pheasant hunts have come from the memories made with family and friends, and not how many birds we killed that day, I have to admit that a sore shoulder from firing at multiple roosters always makes the hunt more enjoyable. I wish all hunters across South Dakota a safe and successful hunting season.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=673054CD-820F-4672-A086-EFB2BDEEA529,SD Representative Kristi Noem stops in Siouxland,2014-10-09,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"KTIV 
	South Dakota's lone Congresswoman made a stop in Siouxland Thursday to talk with some of the state's future voters.
Representative Kristi Noem stopped at Dakota Valley High School to talk with students about her career in politics.
She also answered the student's questions about hot button issues, like the terrorist group ISIS and the ebola outbreak that's found its way into the United States.
Noem is currently campaigning, and says stops like this are one of her favorite parts of the campaign trail.
""I want them to be involved in their government. I want them to be able to be interested in how these policies are made in Washington, D.C. and at the state level impact them and their families every single day. I think when they get the chance to have this kind of dialogue, it becomes real to them,"" Noem said.
Noem is running against Karina Robinson for South Dakota's only seat in the House.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141010000727/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=D797E413-BED9-44AA-A239-D619CFC59ECE,Noem in North Sioux City October 9,2014-10-09,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in North Sioux City on Thursday, October 9, to speak to the junior and senior government classes at Dakota Valley High School.  If you plan to cover the event, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Speak at Dakota Valley High School  WHEN:  Thursday, October 9 – 10:45AM (CT)  WHERE:  Dakota Valley High School, Auditorium (1150 Northshore Drive, North Sioux City)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be speaking to junior and senior government students about the legislative process and her role in Congress.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d953eec9-28c3-441b-867d-302f07202d67,"Heitkamp, Thune Lead Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for Administration to Consider Rural Impact Before Finalizing Health Care Policies",2014-10-09,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) today led a bipartisan group of 33 senators in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Marilyn Tavenner expressing concern that federal regulations for health care facilities do not adequately consider the impact on rural health care providers and rural patients.
The senators’ letter calls on CMS Director Tavenner to share details about how the agency is incorporating rural health care experts earlier in rule-drafting, and called for comprehensive information on the rulemaking process. Noting that recent policy decisions have not adequately reflected the reality of health delivery in rural areas, the senators called on CMS to work toward practices and standards that take rural health facilities into account during its initial rulemaking process. Such efforts would help ensure seniors, families, veterans, and others can access services they need in their communities, rather than forcing them to travel long distances for care.
“We remain concerned these policy decisions do not reflect the reality of providing care in rural communities, and we request additional details on these consultation efforts in advance of future rulemaking,” said the senators. “The proportion of elderly rural Americans continues to grow, and even small policy changes or incremental payment adjustments have a significant impact on access to care in rural areas. Medicare beneficiaries should be able to obtain care within their own communities when possible, and we are committed to ensuring federal policies recognize and incorporate the unique challenges rural providers face.”
Senators Heitkamp, Thune and others have supported legislation to address specific CMS rules that are harmful to rural health facilities.
Click here to view the letter Heitkamp, Thune and 33 other senators sent on October 8, 2014, to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA) both support the senators’ letter.
Heitkamp and Thune were joined in their letter by Senators Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), John Tester (D-Montana), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), Susan Collins (R-Maine), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas), Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Mark Udall (D-Colorado), and Al Franken (D-Minnesota).",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=514d3030-d30c-4d19-9601-ed01ba5af521,Thune Applauds New STB Transparency Reporting Requirements For Railroads,2014-10-08,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the following statement today regarding the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) new data reporting requirements:
“I welcome the additional transparency the STB is seeking from the nation’s largest freight railroads as service delays continue to cause challenges for agriculture producers and other shippers across the country.
“The reporting requirements that the board instituted earlier this year for grain shippers in South Dakota and other states have helped to refocus efforts to address shipper delays – understanding that various industries have particular shipping needs that can be cyclical. While the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the STB continue efforts to address the short and long-term challenges that face shippers and freight railroads regarding high shipping demand and backlogs, there are no magic solutions. That said, the additional information sought by the board should help to ensure that railroads, shippers, and Congress all work from the same facts toward possible solutions.”
Click here for more information on the new STB transparency reporting requirements.
Thune is the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over freight railroads and the STB. Just last month, the Commerce Committee held a hearing on the rail service challenges facing shippers across the country, including agriculture producers in South Dakota as they prepare for a record harvest. In addition, on September 17, 2014, the Commerce Committee passed the bipartisan STB reform bill that Senator Thune and Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) introduced that would streamline the board’s ability to work together and address rate disputes and service complaints. For a complete outline of Thune’s work to reduce the rail service backlog, visit his website.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=d34a48e1-26c6-4a35-9484-639a88787ccd,Thune Calls on Interior and Commerce Departments to Withdraw Endangered Species Act Rules,2014-10-08,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		Today, U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with a number of committee and subcommittee leaders, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker requesting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraw proposed rules and a draft policy relating to critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  
“These latest proposals follow a troubling trend, at both services, of expanding the ESA beyond its lawful scope,” wrote the senators. “In 2011, the FWS reached a secret sue-and-settle agreement with two radical environmental groups to require listing determinations on more than 250 species across the entire United States.”
“I am deeply concerned that these latest proposals relating to the Endangered Species Act are further examples of the ongoing land grab by the Obama administration, without regard to extreme economic consequences,” said Thune. “The ESA is designed to protect endangered species, not serve as a tool for agencies to intrude on millions of acres of private land. These rules would allow both the FWS and NMFS unprecedented federal authority and would place strict limitations on the land preventing productive and beneficial use.”
Both proposals could have a significant impact on the potential listing of the long-eared bat and greater sage grouse, which inhabit South Dakota and are included on the list of 250 species referenced in the letter. The listing of the long-eared bat as an endangered species, which is expected early next year, could have a catastrophic impact on South Dakota’s timber industry, and would ultimately lead to greatly diminished forest management in the Black Hills. This could result in lost jobs, reduced pine beetle control, and increased fire danger. The sage grouse listing would impact ranching, energy development, and other land uses in parts of western South Dakota. 
The proposals would expand the ESA to allow the services to list virtually any area as critical habitat, whether occupied or unoccupied by an endangered species. Additionally, the proposal would allow the services to list areas that are not currently suitable habitat for species as critical habitat under the guise that the habitat may one day be suitable. Critical habitat designations make it more difficult to have any appropriate, productive use of lands, making it concerning that the services would expand their authority in an effort to ensure more critical habitat is designated.
Signing today’s letter include Senators David Vitter (R-Louisiana),  John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Marco Rubio (R-Florida). Vitter is the top republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Boozman is the top republican on the EPW Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife. Rubio is the top republican on Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=75B88928-3BF4-4AE6-93B6-34674B090CD9,National Guard troops welcomed back as rock stars,2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Argus Leader 
	For the rest of her life, Maddie Foss might never get a more memorable surprise than she will experience today.
During her English class at North Dakota State University, she will be told she has a special guest. In will walk her sister, Mackenzie. That would be Spc. Mackenzie Foss, of the 1742nd Transportation Company of the South Dakota Army National Guard, back from deployment to Afghanistan.
The 1742nd was officially welcomed home Tuesday in a ceremony at a crowded Heritage Court at the Sanford Sports Complex Pentagon. Mackenzie Foss, though, has managed to preserve a fiction that the homecoming has yet to take place.
""I have it all set up,"" she said.
On her first full day back in South Dakota, journeying from Brookings to Fargo to surprise her sister might be one of the more ambitious ways to mark the conclusion of the 1742nd's 10 months of active service. But all the soldiers have means to convince themselves they are truly home.
For Kyle Groenwold, also of Brookings, ""It won't seem real until I'm in my recliner."" But with 6-year-old daughter Kyleigh slung on his hip and wearing his cap at the conclusion of the welcome home ceremony, he already was certain he wasn't back in Afghanistan.


A welcome home ceremony was held Tuesday for 162 soldiers of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 1742nd Transportation Company. The event for Sioux Falls and Flandreau soldiers was held following their nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.



Sheila Diercks, a first-grade teacher at St. Michael's School, will be accompanied to class today by her husband, David. They were married only a couple of weeks before he left for Afghanistan.
""It was tough, but we got through it,"" she said.
Now, ""my students are excited to meet him.""
All the soldiers returned safely, which ensured a celebratory air to the ceremony at the Pentagon.
Swinging into the Heritage Court two-by-two with loose, confident strides while Thin Lizzy's ""The Boys Are Back in Town"" and cheers from the audience reverberated through the building, the members of the 1742nd looked like they had just won a championship.
""What a great way to welcome home the soldiers of the 1742nd,"" Gov. Dennis Daugaard said. As the music echoed, ""I almost thought to myself 'They're rock stars.' That's the way it should be. Well, the 1742nd is better than rock stars,"" the governor said.
The company members marched down the center aisle of chairs filling the court. Some joined family members there while the rest peeled off left and right to climb into grandstands also crowded with family members that, impossibly, managed to absorb them.
Daugaard, Rep. Kristi Noem, Flandreau city council member Dan Sutton and National Guard Adjutant General Timothy Reisch all took an opportunity to salute the unit for successfully accomplishing its mission. In large measure, this involved dismantling forward military bases as part of the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan.
""You figured out how to get that last load out with drivers who spoke a different language and who were from a different culture,"" the 1742nd's commanding officer Capt. Tyler Gerlach said of his soldiers.
Noem said the unit's safe return ""is true testimony to the fact God answers prayers."" She told the soldiers, ""You make us proud to be from the state you come from.""
Reisch noted the sacrifices made by family members while the 1742nd was deployed. He said the unit's safe return was ""a huge burden lifted from families."" He also urged the soldiers to carefully manage their return to their families and civilian life.
""Don't automatically think things are going to snap back to the way they were before you left,"" he cautioned.
""You may have a new new car or a new house,"" he continued as chuckles rolled through the audience. ""Relax, take it all in.""
Daugaard pointed out seven babies had been born to the wives of soldiers while the 1742nd was deployed. ""That's better than a new house or a new car,"" he said to a resounding cheer.
The governor also cited the National Guard's service in South Dakota during natural disasters.
""You are a rescue army that comes into town at the times people need the moral reassurance and inspiration you provide.""
Gerlach picked up of Reisch's theme of managing the transition back to civilian life.
""It's going to take sometime longer for some of you. For some, it will click this afternoon,"" he said. ""Be patient with each other.""
Gerlach added that 10 months ago in a ceremony marking the company's departure from South Dakota, he stood in a receiving line and was told repeatedly, ""Bring them home.""
""I will not tell you I accomplished this. We accomplished it,"" he said of the almost 150 soldiers who did all the right things to keep themselves safe.
For Foss, 20, spending almost a year away from home in a war zone sharpened her regard for the life she enjoys in South Dakota.
""You understand and appreciate little things,"" she said. ""Green grass. Not having sand build up in your room. Being able to hug your mom when you want to.""
When the buses carrying the soldiers arrived in Sioux Falls, Sheila Diercks said she anxiously watched for the husband she has spent precious little time with. ""He was one of the last ones off the first bus,"" she said.
There is some debate whether she saw him first or he saw her first. But as they stood together amid the milling soldiers and family members on the floor of the Pentagon at the conclusion of the welcome home ceremony, she looked up at him and grinned.
""We'll fight about that another time,"" she said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20141010000731/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=6852F660-FB5D-4A12-8B08-BEC9989D93B1,Noem in Sioux Falls October 7,2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem will be in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, October 7, to speak with the Sertoma Club and welcome home the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 1742nd Transportation Company.  If you plan to cover either event, please contact Brittany Comins at brittany.comins@mail.house.gov.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
WHAT:  Noem to Speak at Sertoma Club  WHEN:  Tuesday, October 7 – 11:30AM (CT)  WHERE:  CJ Callaway’s (500 E. 69th Street, Sioux Falls)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be speaking with the Sertoma Club about her recent work in Congress, including federal support for the Lewis & Clark Water System and the EPA’s navigable waters proposal.
WHAT:  Noem to Speak at Welcome Home Ceremony for the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 1742nd Transportation Company  WHEN:  Tuesday, October 7 – 2:30PM (CT)  WHERE:  Sanford Pentagon (2210 W. Pentagon Place, Sioux Falls)  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Rep. Noem will be welcoming home the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 1742nd Transportation Company, based out of Sioux Falls and Flandreau.  The unit is returning from a tour in Afghanistan.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8455bc22-b5b5-4f24-a394-fff8d7b55ca5,"Thune, Klobuchar Request Update on Implementation of Home Heating Fuel Bill",2014-10-07,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — 
		
		
		U.S. Senators John Thune (R-South Dakota), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) sent a letter today to the acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Scott Darling, and the administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA), Adam Sieminski, calling for an update from both agencies on the implementation of their Reliable Home Heating Act, which was signed into law on June 30, 2014.
The senators write, “With another possible wet harvest, predictions of another record setting winter, and the current rail service challenges that are slowing the delivery of propane to some regions, we want to ensure that the tools provided in the Reliable Home Heating Act are available to governors and other local officials before they are potentially needed… With fall harvest and winter fast approaching, we write today to request an update on implementation of the Reliable Home Heating Act.”
Thune and Klobuchar’s Reliable Home Heating Act includes provisions to allow governors authority to provide relief from motor carrier rules in the event of a declared emergency. The legislation also requires the EIA to provide early warnings to governors if the inventory of residential heating fuel (propane, natural gas, and home heating oil) falls below the most recent five-year average for more than three consecutive weeks.
Previously, the governor of a state could declare a state of emergency due to shortages of home heating fuel, which would provide a 30-day exemption from certain federal regulations for operators of commercial motor vehicles. At the conclusion of these 30 days, the exemptions would expire unless extended by FMCSA or otherwise addressed by a presidential disaster declaration. Thune and Klobuchar’s legislation gives the governor of a state the authority to extend the state of emergency for two additional 30-day periods, for a total of 90 days without FMCSA action.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has jurisdiction over the FMCSA, which is a component of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The text of the senators’ letter follows:  _ 
October 7, 2014
Mr. Scott Darling                                                        Acting Administrator                                                              Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration                        Department of Transportation                                                1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast                          Washington, DC 20590                                             
Mr. Adam Sieminski  Administrator  Energy Information Administration  Department of Energy  1000 Independence Avenue, Southwest  Washington, DC 20585
Dear Acting Administrator Darling and Administrator Sieminski:
With fall harvest and winter fast approaching, we write today to request an update on implementation of the Reliable Home Heating Act (P.L. 113-125), which was signed into law on June 30, 2014.  As you may recall, a wet harvest, record low temperatures, and changes in propane distribution via pipeline resulted in propane and home heating fuel shortages for much of the country, including in our home states of South Dakota and Minnesota, last year.  The situation was so severe that many governors declared states of emergency. 
In order to better prepare for propane and heating fuel shortages and regional supply disruptions in the future, we sponsored the Reliable Home Heating Act.  The Act seeks to provide governors greater autonomy when they declare heating fuel emergencies.  It also requires the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to provide early warnings to governors if the inventory of residential heating fuel (propane, natural gas, and home heating oil) falls below the most recent five-year average for more than three consecutive weeks.
With another possible wet harvest, predictions of another record setting winter, and the current rail service challenges that are slowing the delivery of propane to some regions, we want to ensure that the tools provided in the Reliable Home Heating Act are available to governors and other local officials before they are potentially needed.  Specifically, has the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) alerted governors to their new ability to extend emergency orders past the initial 30 days?  Also, has the EIA implemented the new early warning system and provided the necessary outreach to ensure that governors are aware of the system and can interpret the data when it is provided?  Finally, during implementation of the Reliable Home Heating Act, has the FMCSA or the EIA identified any other regulatory barriers that could unnecessarily delay or disrupt propane and other home heating fuel deliveries this winter?
Thank you for your attention to this important request.  We look forward to your prompt response. 
Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=369380A0-07E6-4850-A871-8ED10FF55439,Welcome home ceremony scheduled for 1742nd Soldiers,2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Moody County Enterprise 
	A welcome home ceremony for 162 Soldiers of the South Dakota Army National Guard's 1742nd Transportation Company is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls and Flandreau-based 1742nd is returning from a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The public is encouraged to attend.  Gov. Dennis Daugaard, Congresswoman Kristi Noem, Flandreau Mayor Mark Bonrud and Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general of the SDNG, are planned speakers for the ceremony. The 1742nd's mission in Afghanistan was to provide medium transportation support and convoy security. They also provided retrograde support and augmented various supply and service functions.  The unit returned to the United States on Sept. 27 and has been completing demobilization requirements at Fort Hood, Texas, before returning to South Dakota.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=B283C843-E5E0-4919-A9BF-3FE436BAAC6F,"Washington, Take Note of South Dakota",2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"This last week was another incredible reminder of all that South Dakota is doing right to create a healthy, growing economy.  Nationally, our economy continues to struggle.  The unemployment rate remains around six percent, millions have left the workforce, and those who haven’t left are finding it tough to get a job.  Despite all national indications, South Dakota is thriving.
Early in the week, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced that South Dakota saw the fifth highest growth in personal income during the second quarter of 2014.  This 2.3 percent growth shows in very real numbers that the state’s healthy economy is directly impacting our families.  Notably, the growth wasn’t limited to just one sector.  We saw increases for farmers, manufacturers, retailers and those in the construction industry.
On Thursday, I had the chance to sit down with a dozen or so retailers.  These are the people from whom we buy our groceries, our farm supplies, our televisions, washers and dryers.  They operate the restaurants in our hometown and the gift shops when we’re on vacation.  They employ about 127,000 people across the state and are directly or indirectly responsible for about 17 percent of South Dakota’s GDP. 
Every retailer or small business starts with an idea.  What I’ve come to know – and what the folks I sat down with last week explained – is that South Dakota has created an environment where ideas are actively fostered. Our state tax policy makes it cheaper to run a business. The workforce is one of the most dedicated and talented in the country.  We put our heart into everything we produce.  And we are surrounded by communities that generously support each other during the good times and pull together like a family would during the hard times.
It’s probably no wonder then that I joined Governor Daugaard on Friday to welcome a new manufacturer to Brookings.  In addition to 3M and Daktronics, Brookings is now home to a new Babybel cheese manufacturing facility.  It was an honor to welcome them to our state.
I’ve worked hard to replicate South Dakota policies on the federal level because they’ve proven time and again to work.  I’ve focused on increasing support for job training, leveling the playing field for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and reducing the burden of taxes and regulations on all of us.  At times, we’ve been successful.  The EPA’s talks of further regulating dust and farm chores have been thwarted.  Job training programs were put in place for veterans.  We’ve started to cut down on government spending by, among other things, enacting the strictest deficit control provisions since President Reagan.
There’s still a lot more to be done.  But I won’t stop fighting for hardworking taxpayers until you get a government that you deserve – a government that does more with less, is accountable to taxpayers, and doesn’t put regulations or taxes or poorly thought out policies between you and your American dream. 
South Dakota’s doing it right.  Washington ought to take note.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/op-eds?ID=6d436694-892a-4aa9-9638-0032d56584fd,ObamaCares Unhappy Anniversary,2014-10-03,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,John Thune,T000250,www.thune.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator John Thune 
	
	
		
		
		
		The beginning of October marked an “unhappy anniversary” for millions of Americans across the country. On October 1, 2013, the Obama administration launched the disastrous national health care exchange website, HealthCare.gov. Over one year later, the website not only remains plagued with glitches and technological errors, but also faces a host of security risks and privacy concerns.
Last month, the non-partisan Government Accountability Office issued a report detailing the numerous security vulnerabilities that remain unaddressed with the HealthCare.gov website. Millions of Americans have entrusted their personal information with the federal government through this website, yet one year later, the Obama administration is still failing to ensure that this information is secure. I find this unacceptable, and have called on the administration to conduct comprehensive security testing on HealthCare.gov before the next enrollment period begins – testing which the administration has to date refused to conduct. 
The Obama administration’s rollout of HealthCare.gov was symptomatic of everything we already know about ObamaCare, the law is not the solution to our health care problems. It has resulted in higher premiums and higher deductibles for thousands of South Dakota families. And in order to offset the new spending included in the law, ObamaCare increased taxes by more than $1 trillion and cut over $700 billion from Medicare, including sizable cuts to the popular Medicare Advantage program. Some of these new taxes hit small business owners, others hit life-saving medical devices, and even more hit middle-class families struggling under the weight of the Obama economy.
The problems with ObamaCare are about to get even worse. Over 12,000 South Dakotans are working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment. Unfortunately, their hopes of finding full-time work will only fade as the employer mandate and the ObamaCare 30-hour work week rules are enforced this coming January. Small businesses will be subject to expensive new tax penalties of up to $3,000 per full-time uninsured worker, which is defined as anyone working 30-hours per week or longer without government-approved health care. Not only will this mandate discourage hiring full-time workers, but it will also ultimately take away financial resources that would normally be invested in main street businesses.
The current Senate leadership has stifled debate and votes on bills to repeal the job-destroying mandates and taxes included in ObamaCare. However, when a new Congress convenes in January, I’m hopeful that we will finally get the opportunity to repeal and replace ObamaCare with policies that lower health care costs, increase choice, and allow South Dakotans to keep the plans they like and the doctors they trust.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=50B0360B-8FD2-4305-8491-7A9495C53E46,Rep Noem Named a Hero of Main Street,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dakota Country 105.5 
	Rep. Kristi Noem was today recognized as a “Hero of Main Street” by the National Retail Federation.  The award was given during a Sioux Falls roundtable Noem was holding with South Dakota retailers.  During the event, Noem also helped unveil the new “This is Retail” campaign, which features small businesses from across South Dakota.  To view the introductory video that Noem contributed to, please click here.
“Every small business starts with an idea.  The difference in South Dakota is that there’s an environment where we actively foster those ideas,” said Rep. Noem.  “I’ve worked hard to try to replicate South Dakota’s successful policies on the federal level.  At times, we’ve been successful, but there’s more work to do.  I will not stop fighting for hardworking taxpayers until they get a government that they deserve – one that does more with less and doesn’t put regulations, taxes, or poorly thought out policies between them and their American Dream.”
Created in 2013, the “Hero of Main Street “ award annually recognizes Members of Congress for their support for Main Street priorities.  Noem has been a recipient in both 2013 and 2014.
“As someone who has owned her own business, Rep. Noem truly understands the challenges retailers face – especially in a rural state like South Dakota,” said Shawn Lyons, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association.  “Rep. Noem has consistently been a hero to Main Streets across South Dakota and for that, we are pleased to recognize her today.”
“NRF salutes our retail advocates in Congress for their dedication and proven commitment to public policies that support prosperity on Main Street,” National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers are the heart and soul of our local communities, and we are pleased to acknowledge Representative Kristi Noem for consistently supporting pro-growth economic policies aimed at ensuring a healthy and vibrant retail sector in South Dakota.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=B80C37ED-96B4-4B6B-8185-0D6598A8D363,Retailers Try To Reform Their Image,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"KELOLAND 
	One in four jobs in South Dakota is retail. Wednesday, those who run and support retail businesses are getting some recognition for their impact on the community, with a new campaign called ""This is Retail"".

The South Dakota Retailers Association is trying to change the way people view the retail industry.
""Too many people still think that retail is a low wage, low tech and low talent industry. If we don't start to dispel these types of myths, then we won't be able to compete for the high quality talent we need in the state that has the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation,"" Shawn Lyons, South Dakota Retailers Association Executive Director said. 
At a press conference Wednesday, state officials announced a partnership with the National Retail Federation to kick-off the ""This is Retail"" campaign, which will educate the public about what retail is through facts and data.
One way to get that message out will be with PSA videos.
""Retailing can be a wonderful career opportunity. We have many young people that are in our business and we've given them a good opportunity and it'll get better in the future,"" Chairman of Wall Drug, Rick Hustead said. 
The NRF also took time today to award Representative Kristi Noem with the ""Hero of Main Street"" award for her work in Congress.
""We look at voting records. We look at bill sponsorships. And we look at their strong support on key issues,"" Michael Cys, VP of State Relations and Political Affairs for the National Retail Federation said. 
Noem says she's just doing her job, but appreciates the award and the work South Dakota retailers are doing.
""I wish you could be with me the many times that I talk about the things that we do right here in South Dakota and talk about you our business owners. And the people that you employ and take care of. And how we could replicate that at the federal level. If we did, we'd have a much stronger national economy,"" Noem said.
Hustead says some of the things he'd like to see from Washington, as a business owner, is more tax relief and pro-business legislation.
WATCH the report here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=E0166475-BD30-4FF8-BCF2-DECA88D33E49,Noem Named a Hero of Main Street,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Kristi Noem was today recognized as a “Hero of Main Street” by the National Retail Federation.  The award was given during a Sioux Falls roundtable Noem was holding with South Dakota retailers.  During the event, Noem also helped unveil the new “This is Retail” campaign, which features small businesses from across South Dakota.  To view the introductory video that Noem contributed to, please click here.
“Every small business starts with an idea.  The difference in South Dakota is that there’s an environment where we actively foster those ideas,” said Rep. Noem.  “I’ve worked hard to try to replicate South Dakota’s successful policies on the federal level.  At times, we’ve been successful, but there’s more work to do.  I will not stop fighting for hardworking taxpayers until they get a government that they deserve – one that does more with less and doesn’t put regulations, taxes, or poorly thought out policies between them and their American Dream.”
Created in 2013, the “Hero of Main Street “ award annually recognizes Members of Congress for their support for Main Street priorities.  Noem has been a recipient in both 2013 and 2014.
“As someone who has owned her own business, Rep. Noem truly understands the challenges retailers face – especially in a rural state like South Dakota,” said Shawn Lyons, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association.  “Rep. Noem has consistently been a hero to Main Streets across South Dakota and for that, we are pleased to recognize her today.”
“NRF salutes our retail advocates in Congress for their dedication and proven commitment to public policies that support prosperity on Main Street,” National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers are the heart and soul of our local communities, and we are pleased to acknowledge Representative Kristi Noem for consistently supporting pro-growth economic policies aimed at ensuring a healthy and vibrant retail sector in South Dakota.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140926003700/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=3CD9833A-34BE-46A7-B0F6-C2434685B490,"Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in McLaughlin, Timber Lake, and Eagle Butte on October 2",2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Brad Otten of her Rapid City office will hold Mobile Office Hours in McLaughlin, Timber Lake, and Eagle Butte on Thursday, October 2.  If any area resident needs help with a federal agency or has comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman, they may schedule an appointment with Otten by calling 791-4673.
While in the area, Otten will also be holding meetings with community organizations and local businesses.   To get immediate assistance, please contact Rep. Noem’s Rapid City office at 791-4673 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov.
- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in McLaughlin, Timber Lake, and Eagle Butte     WHEN: Thursday, October 2, 2014   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:  Please call Brad Otten at 791-4673 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Residents may meet with Brad Otten of Rep. Noem’s Rapid City office to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://web.archive.org/web/20140926003704/http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/events?ContentRecord_id=024B575F-32AC-4266-A8C8-B117CF7E056A,Noem Staff to Hold Mobile Office Hours in Highmore on October 2,2014-10-02,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"U.S. Representative Kristi Noem today announced that Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, will hold Mobile Office Hours in Highmore on Thursday, October 2.  Vallery will be available that day between 11:00AM and 11:45AM at Backroads Grill (224 Iowa Avenue South, Highmore) to meet with residents who need help with a federal agency or have concerns or comments they would like passed along to the Congresswoman.
If area residents are unable to meet during the Mobile Office Hours from 11:00AM to 11:45AM, please contact Rep. Noem’s Sioux Falls office at 275-2868 or visit her website at www.noem.house.gov to schedule a separate appointment or get immediate assistance. 
- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 -
WHAT: Noem Staff Hold Mobile Office Hours in Highmore       WHEN: Thursday, October 2, 2014 – 11:00AM to 11:45AM (CT)   WHERE: Backroads Grill (224 Iowa Avenue South, Highmore)   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Highmore residents may meet with Rick Vallery, a staff member out of Pierre, to get help with a federal agency or pass on any concerns or comments they have for the Congresswoman.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=77C64130-420B-4C9D-B010-1D2617514671,South Dakota politicians share info about military academies,2014-10-01,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"Associated Press 
	South Dakota's Congressional delegation is looking for promising high school students to recommend to military academies.
U.S. Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem say students interested in being nominated to one of four U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2019 must apply by Nov. 1.
The academies are the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.
Thune, Johnson, and Noem will each compile separate lists and make nominations to the academies of the most qualified candidates by Jan. 31. They're encouraging applicants to submit applications to all three Congressional offices in order to better their chances of receiving a nomination.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://noem.house.gov/index.cfm/in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=A6E8263D-41BB-45D3-A486-E88E885C71C8,"Noem highlights efforts to cut spending, preserve services",2014-10-01,2014,2014-10,Republican,House,SD,Kristi Noem,N000184,noem.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Ripon Advance 
	Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) highlighted legislative efforts to cut federal spending and to preserve services for her constituents on Friday in her weekly column.
Noem cited the Farm Bill, which “heavily impacts” South Dakota’s largest industry, and said it benefits consumers and agricultural producers alike.
“The 2014 Farm Bill, which I helped negotiate, cut $20 billion by making programs more accountable and efficient,” Noem said. “Meanwhile, the bill includes a safety net for producers that I’m hopeful will help stabilize prices at the grocery store long term. It also reestablished a meaningful livestock disaster program, increased pine beetle mitigation efforts and continued support for ag research at places like (South Dakota State University).
Noem also outlined efforts to finalize a new fund to support the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System program, which brings clean water to rural areas in South Dakota and elsewhere in the country.
“While local communities have paid their fair share for the project, the federal government has fallen through on its promises,” Noem said. “Last year, I helped establish a new fund to get around the president’s chronic underfunding of the program. I made cuts elsewhere to ensure the numbers still worked and the new fund helped secure a total of $8.4 million for the project in (fiscal year) 2014. This year, we were able to boost that new fund even more in the House. Again, it was done without increasing overall spending.”
Noem also worked to combat human trafficking, to improve healthcare for veterans and to bring more accountability the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the last year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z