Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) addressed the Senate floor today, emphasizing the urgency of passing the National Defense Authorization Act. Thune criticized Majority Leader Schumer for prioritizing politically motivated bills over national defense and security.

Thune began his remarks by expressing relief that President Trump is safe following a second apparent attempt on his life within two months. "The trend this election cycle has taken toward violence is disturbing to say the least," Thune stated, calling for reflection on political discourse and gratitude towards law enforcement.

Highlighting the importance of national security, Thune asserted, "If we don’t get national security right, the rest is just conversation." He stressed that maintaining a robust national defense requires continuous focus and investment.

Citing a July report from the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, Thune noted, “‘The Commission finds that the U.S. military lacks both the capabilities and the capacity required to be confident it can deter and prevail in combat.’” He also referenced concerns about China's military advancements: “‘Without significant change by the United States, the balance of power will continue to shift in China’s favor.’”

Thune outlined various global threats including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China's aggression in the Pacific, terrorist attacks in Israel, and tensions involving Iran. He expressed frustration with Senate Democrats for not prioritizing defense legislation: “We are two weeks away from the end of the fiscal year...we haven’t touched [it] since it was passed by committee.”

Thune concluded by urging for greater attention to national security responsibilities: “I hope we will have leaders who take our national security a little more seriously.” He then yielded the floor.