John Thune
Senator for South Dakota · Republican · United States
“Around this time last year, during Democrats' record-long government shutdown, Senate Democrats were working to end this program. I am curious if the Democrat leader would like to claw back the $212 million that rural healthcare providers in New York are going to receive from this program this year.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Well, perhaps the Democrat leader should check in with his State's Governor, who said of a recent $76 million investment from this program: These investments will bring rural hospitals, health centers and community providers together to strengthen regional health care networks and make it easier for New Yorkers to get the care they need c…”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“This funding will help expand crisis services and build out our State's workforce in behavioral healthcare, and it comes after another announcement in August of funding to modernize technology and strengthen cyber security at rural healthcare providers in South Dakota, an initiative that will not only modernize care in my State but also s…”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, we are coming to the end of the first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This multiyear initiative created in Republicans' Working Families Tax Cut legislation will invest $50 billion in all 50 States to put rural healthcare providers on a more sustainable footing for the future.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“In the words of South Dakota Secretary of Health Melissa Magstadt, ``the initiatives that we've developed came strictly from the assessments we had, the expert input we garnered, and what citizens themselves said they needed in the community.'' That is exactly how the Rural Health Transformation Program is supposed to work, and it is not…”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions, which are at the desk: S. Res. 922, S. Res. 923, S. Res. 924, S. Res. 925, S. Res. 926, S. Res. 927, and S. Res. 928. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc. Mr.”
Senate29 September 2026Source ↗
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“Mr. President, there is no doubt that the Democrat Party has moved sharply left in recent years, but this election cycle has seen the Democrat Party take a big step further toward full-blown socialism. New York City's new Democrat mayor, a self-proclaimed Democrat socialist, might be the most notable example, but he is far from alone. Around the country, socialists have been winning Democrat primaries, and it is no exaggeration to say that socialism is rapidly gaining a prominent new role in the Democrat Party. So let's talk a little bit about socialism and the platform of the Democratic Socialists of America. When you look at the platform, right away, you see some predictable things; namely, government control of almost everything.”
Senate23 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.”
Senate23 September 2026Source ↗
“And that is why so many Californians are moving to red States and leaving Democrats' failed policies behind. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“President Reagan, the Governor of California in another era, once said: If a State is badly managed, the people will either do one of two things: They will either use their power at the polls to redress that, or they'll go someplace else. Well, Americans are leaving California in droves. In each of the past 6 years, the Golden State has had the largest net loss of population on the U-Haul index. Businesses and employers are leaving, taking jobs and opportunities to other States. That should be instructive. That should be instructive to us here. But Democrats don't--or perhaps won't--take the hint. California ranks last--dead last--in affordability, but it is the first place Democrats look to for ideas on how to govern. We could do better. Republicans are doing better.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“Here is how California ranked: 46th in energy, 41st in pre-K through 12 education, 48th in employment, and 50th in affordability--last place. And I struggle to think of a Democrat who has critiqued the way California is run. Instead, as I have said, Democrats continue to seek to impose a California-style regulatory regime on the whole country. And when it comes to illegal immigration, the national Democratic Party is now to the left, if you can imagine that--to the left of California. Earlier this year, national Democrats tried to completely defund Border Patrol and immigration enforcement, a move that would have effectively made America a sanctuary country. And I fully expect that a Democrat government here in Washington would be spending taxpayer dollars on benefits like healthcare for illegal immigrants, as California has done.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“Senator Lummis' resolution would block a California rule restricting small motors for things like lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Yes, as this list suggests, California will regulate just about anything that moves, ignoring the fact that these types of rules restrict consumer choice and lead to higher prices for working families. As I mentioned, California's rush to electrification strained its power grid to the point that it faced rolling blackouts and high energy prices, and regulators had to ask residents not to charge their electric vehicles at certain hours. It confounds me as to why we would try to do the same thing nationwide. And that is exactly what Democrats tried to do during the Biden administration. Over the summer, U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of States on a number of criteria.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“That is what happened with electric vehicles. The Biden administration not only implemented its own California-style electric vehicle mandate, it also allowed California to impose a de facto EV mandate on the rest of the country. Fortunately, Republicans rescinded that mandate just last year, and our work continues to block other mandates of the same sort. We have a number of resolutions in the pipeline to address painful California regulations that have created de facto mandates for the entire country. Senators Ricketts and Husted have resolutions related to California's strict emissions standards targeting gas-powered vehicles. Senator Schmitt has another on California's unrealistic emissions standards for cars. Senators Sullivan and Moreno have introduced resolutions related to commercial shipping vessels.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“So one has to wonder: What do Democrats stand for? What is their vision for this country? Well, I think their last stint in power is pretty instructive: Democrats' vision for the country looks a lot like the Big Government vision Democrats have implemented in California. You don't have to take my word for it. A Los Angeles Times headline a few days before President Biden took office read ``Make America California again? That's Biden's plan.'' ``California,'' the article went on to say, ``is emerging as the de facto policy think tank of the Biden-Harris administration and of a Congress soon to be under Democratic control.'' That is right. In the words of the L.A. Times, Democrats leaned on California for inspiration in setting a progressive policy agenda for the Biden administration.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, last week, I came to the floor to discuss some of the things this Republican majority has delivered over the last 2 years: permanently lowering taxes for families, a secure border. We have worked to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and make home ownership more affordable, and we have delivered regulatory relief and tax policies to help our Nation's small businesses as well as family farms and ranches. Republicans have spent the last 2 years delivering on our agenda, and it should be pretty clear what we stand for: more money in your pocket, safer streets, and new and more opportunities to get ahead. Our Democratic colleagues, however, have spent much of the last 2 years opposing this agenda. They have cast a lot of ``no'' votes and criticized Republicans' agenda at seemingly every turn.”
Senate22 September 2026Source ↗
“4668, a bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes. John Thune, Ted Cruz, Eric Schmitt, Chuck Grassley, Tim Sheehy, John Barrasso, Steve Daines, Pete Ricketts, John Cornyn, John R. Curtis, Alan Armstrong, Ted Budd, James Lankford, Bernie Moreno, Cindy Hyde-Smith, James E. Risch, Mike Crapo. Cloture Motion Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk on the underlying bill.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Thune] proposes an amendment numbered 6783 to amendment No. 6782. Mr. THUNE. I ask consent the reading be waived.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from South Dakota [Mr. Thune] proposes amendment No. 6782 to the instructions of the motion to recommit. Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask consent the reading be waived.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Thune] moves to recommit the bill to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment numbered 6781. Mr. THUNE. I ask the reading be dispensed with.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The yeas and nays are ordered. Amendment No. 6780 to Amendment No. 6779 Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To improve the bill) Strike ``1 day'' and insert ``2 days''. Amendment No. 6779 Mr. THUNE. I have an amendment to the text of the underlying bill.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To improve the bill) At the end add the following. ``This Act shall take effect 1 day after the date of enactment.'' Mr. THUNE. I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I ask the reading be dispensed with.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 828.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“There were so many other great moments from my travels: getting to tour Spearfish High School's Career and Technical Education Center; visiting Dakota State's Applied Research Corporation to discuss how South Dakota can be a leader in cyber security and national intelligence; interacting with students at Black Hills State University; participating in the groundbreaking of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Technical College, which is a deeply meaningful moment for me as a former Jim Abdnor staffer. Late summer in South Dakota can't be beat, and I am very proud to be from our great State. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“It is always an honor to get to talk to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect their fellow Americans. Over the past few weeks, I had the chance to visit with South Dakota sheriffs at a roundtable in Flandreau, chat with members of the Lemmon Volunteer Fire Department, and show the Under Secretary of the Army around Ellsworth Air Force Base. Anticipation is building for the arrival of the B-21 bomber, which is the future of the long-range strike, and we had some great discussions about the preparations that are underway. We also had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the South Dakota industrial base and academia about their contributions to the joint force, like the work that VRC Metal Systems in Box Elder is doing on cold-spray maintenance technology.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“And while I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues have chosen to put politics ahead of producers and unanimously opposed the farm bill, which was voted on yesterday at the Senate Ag Committee, I haven't given up. Another big perk of the past few weeks has been the opportunity to visit South Dakota small businesses. I got to tour Gameday Social's new headquarters in Sioux Falls, sit down with ranchers and other community leaders at the Lazy Spurr in Bison, tour Woodland Cabinetry in Sisseton, and more. I love hearing from small business owners about how the Working Families Tax Cut is helping their businesses, and I value the opportunity to hear what else we can do in Washington to help small businesses grow and thrive and create jobs.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a terrific agribusiness meeting at the Brown County Fair, and the Dakotafest congressional forum always provides me with a lot of valuable feedback from South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Outside the fair circuit, I also had the chance to talk to South Dakota ag producers at a number of other stops, including the CHS Southwest Grain elevator in Lemmon and the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit. Farmers and ranchers are facing a lot of headwinds right now, and I am committed to do everything I can in Washington to help producers. I am proud that the Republicans' Working Families Tax Cut legislation strengthened a number of programs producers depend on, such as crop insurance and commodity and livestock programs.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“And I ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the Mitchell nomination.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.”
Senate17 September 2026Source ↗
“The question before us is whether the same opportunities that were available for my dad and for my daughter will be available for the next generation of student-athletes. We have a responsibility to them to protect college sports so they can focus on their sport, their education, and their future. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“Getting this type of input is the only way that you get a bill like this--a bill that has broad bipartisan support, that has support from more than 30 college athletic conferences, hundreds of universities in all 50 States and in Washington, DC, and from hundreds of thousands of student-athletes, which is the most important support of all. I mentioned that I am a sports fan. I am also part of a sports family. My dad was a Big Ten basketball player in the early 1940s. He got the chance to play point guard for the University of Minnesota where he was the team MVP. He was high point man at a game in Madison Square Garden--quite a journey for a smalltown kid from South Dakota. My daughter ran cross country and track at Belmont University and was inducted into that school's hall of fame.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“This bill also bans coaches from switching schools midseason, ensuring that athletes have the same coach at the end of the season as they did at the start. And it brings transparency to athletic compensation, protects student-athletes from bad actors, and safeguards opportunities for women's and Olympic sports. This bill has been a work in progress for a number of years, and I am grateful for all the hard work that went into getting it right. I have sat down with college athletes in my State to get their perspective. I have talked to coaches and athletic directors, and I know I am not the only Senator to have done so.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“And yesterday we moved forward to begin debate on that bill: the Protect College Sports Act, which preserves the opportunities that have been available to student-athletes for generations and ensures those opportunities can coexist with the new opportunities available to the current generation of college athletes. The Protect College Sports Act addresses some of the largest issues in college athletics today, and in doing so, it restores stability to the college sports ecosystem. And that starts with uniform eligibility rules: One transfer without loss of eligibility; a maximum 5 years of playing time starting at college enrollment or on the athlete's 19th birthday; and no professional athletes.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“Eligibility rules have been stretched--most notably, with former professional players being recruited back to a college campus. And amid the arms race in revenue-generating sports and among larger institutions, smaller schools and nonrevenue sports are increasingly anxious about the future. Smaller institutions risk losing standout players to schools with bigger budgets. And last year it was reported that 41 Olympic sports programs were cut across NCAA Division I athletics programs, affecting over a thousand student-athletes. This status quo cannot continue, and to restore stability to the college sports ecosystem, we need national standards, not a patchwork of State laws. Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell and a number of our colleagues on the Commerce Committee, we have a bill to do that.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“Fans who attended that university--and often many who didn't attend, but nevertheless are a part of that school's community--all of them united by their love for the school. Anyone who knows me knows I am a sports fan. I spend a lot of time at games when I am back home in South Dakota. And whether I am in a high school gym on a Friday night, at a tailgate on a Saturday morning, at the DakotaDome or the PREMIER Center--in a conversation with sports fans, the current state of college athletics is bound to come up. Anyone who follows college sports knows that the last few years have been complex and, at times, chaotic. Higher numbers of student-athletes are entering the transfer portal, and rosters are being overhauled each season.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, it is no coincidence that the largest stadium in the United States is a college football stadium. College athletics has a unique place in America. It is deeply rooted in our communities and families. For student-athletes, their sport is an important part of their education. What they learn from their coaches, teammates, and on the playing field, they carry with them throughout their lives. And there is nothing like the opportunity to compete in front of your friends, classmates, parents, and professors. We could say the same thing about fans in the stands. There is nothing quite like a college sporting event. There is something very unifying about it. Game day brings together people from every walk of life.”
Senate16 September 2026Source ↗
“And now is not the time for political games. We have seen what regulatory certainty did to promote innovation and growth in stablecoins. We have an opportunity to do that across the entire digital asset industry by passing the Clarity Act. We should take the opportunity before us to ensure this innovation happens right here in America and that the United States remains the leader in financial technology well into the future. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate15 September 2026Source ↗
“The Clarity Act was reported out of the Banking Committee on a bipartisan vote, and, over the weekend, Senators Lummis, Boozman, and Scott released a final draft that incorporated even more of Democrats' demands, in the interest of moving forward with this bill. The question now is whether Democrats will take yes for an answer. Digital assets are firmly rooted in the United States. One in five American adults has invested in or used cryptocurrency. The overwhelming majority of crypto owners want clear rules of the road and protections like those provided in the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act. This is a shared priority for Republicans, Democrats, and President Trump. We have been working at it now for over a year. The only reason for this progress to end now would be if Democrats choose politics over good policy.”
Senate15 September 2026Source ↗
“It would require exchanges to be subject to examination and provide transparency so that regulators can intervene before harm becomes widespread. It would prevent companies from using customers' funds as their own, as FTX did, and it would ensure that exchanges and their affiliates can't trade on their own platforms. This bill has support from large financial institutions and law enforcement organizations, and it has had bipartisan support from the beginning. As I said, this bill has been a bipartisan work in progress for over a year, with roots that go back even before that. In the last year, 126 substantive changes have been made to the bill at the request of our Democrat colleagues.”
Senate15 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, last year, Congress passed the GENIUS Act, which is the first bill regulating digital assets ever to become law. And the GENIUS Act was a landmark bill for more reasons than just being the first. It applied a light-touch approach to digital asset regulation that provides clear rules of the road for stablecoins, while allowing space for continued innovation and encouraging that innovation to happen right here in the United States. We have already seen the positive effects of that approach. Stablecoin market capitalization increased by 49 percent in 2025, due in part to the regulatory clarity provided by the GENIUS Act. Visa and Mastercard have been investing in stablecoin-linked credit cards amid heightened demand for such cards.”
Senate15 September 2026Source ↗
“I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Aiden for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come. ____________________”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, today I recognize Aiden Whitley, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Aiden is from Edgemont, SD, where he graduated with his high school diploma from homeschool. Currently, he is attending Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, where he is pursuing a degree in political science. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Morgan for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come. ____________________”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, today I recognize Morgan Schroeder, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several months. Morgan is a graduate of White Lake High School in White Lake, SD. Currently, she is attending Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD, where she is pursuing a degree in political science. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Cruz for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come. ____________________”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. President, today I recognize Cruz Collin, an intern in my Rapid City, SD, office for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota over the past several weeks. Cruz is a graduate of the International School of Toulouse in Toulouse, France. Currently, he is attending the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, OR, where he is pursuing a degree in renewable energy engineering and applied physics. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Generations of Americans have passed through this building and learned about our Nation and our government from the Capitol Guide Service. And thanks to these men and women, visitors from around the world can see and understand this building and the business of the American people being done within its walls. When the first guides began their tours in 1876, Constantino Brumidi was still at work, statues were still arriving from the States, and many States had not yet been admitted to the Union, my own included. The guides in this building are not only history-tellers; they are witnesses to history in the making. I congratulate them on 150 years of welcoming visitors to the Capitol, and I wish them the best in their continued service. ____________________”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 830.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“Safer communities and a safer country, that has been and will continue to be a Republican priority. Our work isn't done, but I am proud of what we have been able to do this Congress to put more money in Americans' pockets and to help make our country more secure. And hard-working Americans will continue to be at the top of Republicans' agenda. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“That is right, not a single illegal immigrant has been released into the United States during the entire 2026 fiscal year. Now, that has been the case for 15 straight months, in fact, under President Trump. And I don't need to tell anyone what a massive turnaround that is from the Biden administration, which presided over the release of millions of illegal immigrants into our country's interior. The dangers of the unchecked illegal immigration that we saw under the Biden administration are manifold. And to help prevent anything like that from happening again, the Working Families Tax Cut included substantial resources to help guarantee the security of our Nation's border from additional Border Patrol agents to security technology. We also boosted funding for our national defense and for law enforcement.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗
“As I said, in addition to reducing taxes and working to lower costs, Republicans were also committed to dealing with the Biden border crisis. President Trump took action immediately to get the situation at our southern border under control, and the reduction in illegal immigration has been staggering. During the last full year of the Biden border crisis, which was fiscal year 2024, there were well over 2 million illegal immigrant encounters at our southern border. Well, we are almost done with fiscal year 2026, and do you want to know how many encounters there have been at the southern border? Fewer than 120,000. We are looking at somewhere on the order of a 90-percent decrease. And do you want to know how many of those illegal immigrants have been released into the United States? Zero.”
Senate14 September 2026Source ↗