WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following remarks on July 26, 2023: * * * U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the Senate Finance Committee's passage of the Modernizing and Ensuring Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) Accountability Act, legislation that seeks to increase transparency of the prescription drug supply chain, hold PBMs accountable, and improve patient access to pharmacies. The legislation includes two bills that Sen. Thune championed, the S  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Dakota State University (DSU) President Dr. Jose-Marie Griffiths moderated a briefing on artificial intelligence (AI) for members of the United States Senate on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The briefing was the third bipartisan education session hosted by the Senate's AI working group led by Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Today, the House Agriculture Committee voted to advance the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act, a bill to provide historic clarity to the digital asset industry led by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) and French Hill (R-AR). Yesterday, the House Financial Services Committee passed the unprecedented joint bill out of  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed their Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act, bipartisan legislation that would accelerate the review and processing of mortgages on trust land by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). "Affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land can be hard to come by in South Dakota   more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: The United States Senate passed an amendment offered by U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) that bans foreign adversaries from purchasing American farmland and agricultural businesses. The amendment, Rounds 813, will be included in the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment passed by a vote 91-7. "China and Russia are our near-peer adversaries and N  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill contains numerous priorities that benefit South Dakota and the future B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base, including authorization for $5.3 billion for continued aircraft development and initial procurement  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, today applauded the Senate Commerce Committee's unanimous passage of his bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act, which was included in a larger bill to address kids' safety on the internet. Thune's bill would make it easier for internet platform users to understand the potential m  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) today introduced the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure seniors can continue to access certain clinical services from their pharmacist. The bill would allow Medicare to reimburse for certain pharmacist-administered tests, treatments, and vaccinations for influenza, respirato  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of passing a strong National Defense Authorization Act that strengthens our national security and Ellsworth Air Force Base's position in defending it, addresses concerns about U.S. military readiness, and provides support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): "Mr. President, in 1  more