Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor today, highlighting the accomplishments of Republican leadership over the past six months and outlining future legislative goals.

Thune emphasized that significant progress has been made since Republicans assumed control in Washington, noting, "We’ve already delivered some significant wins for the American people – and there’s so much more on the way."

Among the achievements cited by Thune is the swift confirmation of President Trump's Cabinet, with 21 positions filled at a faster pace than any administration since George W. Bush. The Republican-led Senate has confirmed 68 civilian nominees this year, including 11 ambassadors.

Legislative successes include passing the Laken Riley Act, which mandates detention for illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes, and the HALT Fentanyl Act to address fentanyl-related substances. Additionally, President Trump signed Senator Cruz's TAKE IT DOWN Act into law last month.

Thune also discussed ongoing efforts to repeal regulations from the Biden era through Congressional Review Act resolutions. These measures aim to block policies such as President Biden's natural gas tax and new appliance standards.

Looking ahead, Thune expressed gratitude for his colleagues' efforts and stressed the importance of upcoming legislation: "But needless to say, there’s still a lot more to do – starting with the reconciliation bill we’ve been working on."

This reconciliation bill seeks to prevent tax hikes, invest in border security, strengthen military capabilities, and enhance American energy production. Thune stated that consideration of this bill would occur during this work period with an aim for completion by July 4.

Appropriations season has commenced alongside work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Thune urged bipartisan cooperation in advancing these critical bills through committee processes.

Concluding his remarks, Thune reiterated Republican commitment: "We’ve worked hard to deliver on our mandate, and we are not taking our foot off the gas."