Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor to discuss President Trump's upcoming address to Congress and his achievements during his first weeks in office.

Thune expressed anticipation for Trump's discussion on accomplishments and future plans. "President Trump may have been in office for a matter of weeks, but he’s already built a considerable record of success," Thune stated.

Highlighting immigration efforts, Thune noted a significant decrease in encounters at the southern border, attributing this change to Trump's policies. "Over the weekend, it emerged that there were just 8,450 encounters, approximately, at our southern border for the entire month of February – at least a 25-year low."

Thune also emphasized safety improvements due to the administration's actions against illegal activities. "In just six weeks, they’ve taken a lot of dangerous people off of our streets," he remarked.

The energy sector was another focal point of Thune's speech. He criticized previous administration measures while praising Trump’s commitment to increasing energy supply and security. Citing an article from The Washington Post, Thune highlighted potential risks due to increased demand on the power grid.

The progress made by the Senate in confirming Trump's Cabinet nominees was another point of pride for Thune. "We’ve confirmed 20 of the president’s 22 Cabinet nominees – a substantially faster pace of confirmations than in any of the three previous administrations."

Additionally, Thune mentioned ongoing efforts to overturn regulations imposed by the Biden administration using legislative tools like the Congressional Review Act.

Discussing financial regulations, Thune outlined upcoming votes on resolutions aimed at preventing expansions seen as unnecessary by some lawmakers. He voiced concerns over privacy and innovation being affected by these regulations.

"Mr. President, the Biden administration left our nation facing a lot of challenges," concluded Thune. However, he remained optimistic about overcoming these challenges with President Trump's leadership and vision for America's future.