Mr. President, we spent the weeks before Easter debating the SAVE America Act here in the Senate. And since the debate began, we have seen Democrats contort themselves every which way to justify opposing the commonsense policies in this bill. On no issue is that more evident than voter ID. Polls show that 80 percent of Americans support voter ID. Majorities of Americans in both parties support this commonsense requirement, but among Democrats here in the Senate, it is a different story.
2026 MidtermsSolid SeatR+44$2.8M raised
John Thune
Senator · South Dakota · Republican
John Thune
Border Security · Tax Cuts · Agriculture Subsidies · Energy Development
Senate Floor
Recent comments in the Senate
Mr. President, I don't know a lot of people who look forward to April 15. No. I suspect tax day doesn't rank high on Americans' favorite days of the year, but I would wager that a lot more Americans were pleasantly surprised this year when they went to file their taxes because thanks to Republicans' Working Families Tax Cut bill, a lot more Americans kept a lot more of their hard-earned money this year. That is right. Hard-working Americans saw lower tax bills.
Mr. President, enough is enough. Republicans have bent over backward to negotiate with Democrats, and now Democrats need to get serious about funding the Department of Homeland Security. Now, let's just review things for a minute here. In January, Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate reached an agreement on the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, including a number of reforms: deescalation training for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, increased funding for body cameras, and increased oversight of border security and immigration enforcement funding.
Mr. President, we are on day 40 of Democrats' shutdown of Department of Homeland Security—day 40. And that is on top of Democrats' recordbreaking 43-day full-government shutdown in the fall. Altogether, thanks to Senate Democrats, a lot of DHS employees have been working without pay for more than 80 days so far this fiscal year. That is shameful. It is no wonder TSA agents are quitting in droves— anyone would be if they had been working without pay for almost 50 percent of the fiscal year so far.
Mr. President, if one thing is abundantly clear from polling, it is that there are a lot of Americans out there of both parties who find voter ID requirements and proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration to be pretty commonsense policies. One poll, in fact, showed that a whole lot of voters already believe proof of citizenship is required to register—I assume because it seems pretty darned common sense to most people to ensure that those registered to vote are eligible.
Biography
John Thune grew up in a small South Dakota town and began his career as a public servant before entering politics. Elected as U.S. Senator for South Dakota in 2004, Thune focuses on rural development, transportation infrastructure, and agricultural policy. He has played a key role in shaping federal farm bills and serves as the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Thune works to expand broadband access and support economic growth in South Dakota, representing his state with a pragmatic and results-oriented approach.
Education
- M.B.A., University of South Dakota1984
- B.S. in Business Administration, Biola University, CA
Professional History
U.S. Senator
2005–PresentSenator from South Dakota. 4 terms.
U.S. Representative
1997–2003Represented South Dakota (at-large district) for 3 terms.
Executive Director, South Dakota Municipal League
1993–1996Led the association representing South Dakota’s municipalities.
Railroad Director of South Dakota
1991–1993Appointed by Governor George S. Mickelson to oversee state railroad matters.
Executive Director, South Dakota Republican Party
1989–1991Served as the state party’s executive director after moving to Pierre.
Policy Focus
Congress9%
Taxation9%
Agriculture and Food8%
Health4%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from John Thune's record in Congress.
Surface Transportation Legislation
Championed the FAST Act, securing long-term federal funding for highways, bridges, and transit infrastructure.
Broadband Expansion
Led efforts to expand high-speed internet access in rural South Dakota through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.
Rail Safety Reform
Sponsored legislation improving rail safety standards and oversight, notably through the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act.
Farm Bill Advocacy
Helped shape multiple Farm Bills, enhancing crop insurance and conservation programs for South Dakota farmers and ranchers.
Committee Assignments
View details →- Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Senate Committee on Finance
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceEx Officio
Sen. John Thune FAQ
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