WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following commentary: * * * A New Direction in Washington In the first two weeks since President Trump took the oath of office, the U.S. Senate has moved to confirm his Cabinet as swiftly as possible. Despite Democrats' obstruction, we have been able to confirm eight nominees within 10 days of President Trump's inauguration. These individuals are on the job, and the Senate is hard at work to get more of President Trump's team   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Rep.) -- Del. Aumua Amata Radewagen, R-American Samoa, issued the following news release: * * * Amata Welcomes Senate Confirmation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting the Senate confirmation of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, a friend and former colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives. Secretary Noem, 53, was sworn in on January 25 in the White House's Eisenhower Executive Office  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Today, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) introduced legislation to arrange the carving of President Donald J. Trump on the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. This bill aims to honor President Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, for his transformative impact on America and the historical significance of his leadership. The proposal empha  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed South Dakota Governor, and former member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Kristi Noem as the 8th Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security: "President Trump has acted swiftly to begin securing our southern borde  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Fischer Joins FOX Report to Discuss President's Cabinet Nominees and Nuclear Deterrence U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined FOX Report with Jon Scott. She discussed the confirmation of President Trump's Cabinet nominees and emphasized the importance of strengthening America's nuclear deterrent. Senator Fischer also celebrated the recent confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Johnson Invites Trump, Burgum to Host Independence Day Fireworks at Mount Rushmore Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) invited the President Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to host a fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day. The last celebration with fireworks at Mount Rushmore was in 2020, during President Trump's first admin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds Joins Department of Government Efficiency Caucus WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has joined the Senate's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. The DOGE Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members ready to work hand-in-hand with the Trump administration to identify and eliminate wasteful spending and resources in the federal governm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds to Chair Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee in 119th Congress WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today announced he will once again serve as Chairman of the SASC Subcommittee on Cybersecurity during the 119th Congress. "I am honored to once again lead the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity," said Rounds. "Our armed se  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds to Chair Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment in 119th Congress WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he will serve as the Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment. Rounds served as the Ranking Member of the subcommittee during the 118th Congress  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds, Thune Introduce Legislation to Rename Pierre Federal Building after Marcella LeBeau WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced the Marcella LeBeau Recognition Act to designate the federal office building in Pierre as the "Marcella LeBeau Federal Building." Born in Promise, LeBeau was a lifelong South Dakotan, a World War II Vete  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted, 59-34, to confirm the Honorable Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): "I commend the Senate for its bipartisan confirmation of  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Kristi Noem, President Trump's nominee to be secretary of Homeland Security, from a Jan. 17, 2025, confirmation hearing: * * * Good morning, Chairman Paul, Ranking Member Peters, and distinguished members of the committee. I am honored to appear before you today as the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security. I want to thank President-Elect Donald J. Trump for his confid  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Comments on the Tragic Plane Crash in D.C. Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, before I begin, I want to comment on last night's horrific tragedy. "As most now know, last night around 9:00 p.m. a passenger flight out  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Discusses Scott Bessent's Vision for a Thriving, Competitive Economy Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, later today we will hold a vote on the nomination of Scott Bessent to be treasury secretary. "An example of the  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Discusses Sean Duffy's Plan for a Safer, More Efficient Transportation System Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, this afternoon we will also be voting to invoke cloture on the nomination of Sean Duffy to be secretary   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Guy Benson on Fox News Radio Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Guy Benson on Fox News Radio. On the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C.: "[I]t was a tragic accident. And on a day like today, all you can do is pray for those who were on the plane and their loved ones, as well as the first responders who hav  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Joins Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Maria Bartiromo on Fox News. On confirming President Trump's nominees to enact his agenda: "Well, we need them in place, Maria. I think, as you know, in order to implement that agenda, you've got to have new leadership in those departments and agen  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Supports Howard Lutnick at Secretary of Commerce Confirmation Hearing Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today questioned Howard Lutnick at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's confirmation hearing for secretary of commerce. On expanding internet access to rural areas: THUNE: "I want to come back quick  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Thanks Dedicated Capitol Workers, Congressional Staff, and Law Enforcement Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, I've said it before and I'll say it again, not one of us would last a day here in Congress without our staf  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Democrats Are in Disarray Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Good afternoon. "Today finds the Democrats in disarray and we're going to find out here real soon whether that disarray extends to abandoning the defense of I  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Democrats Turn Their Backs on Israel, Block ICC Sanctions Bill Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, yesterday afternoon my Democrat colleagues - and when I say my Democrat colleagues, I mean all of my Democrat colleagu  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Doug Burgum Knows That America's Natural Resources are Our Greatest National Asset Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, later today the Senate will vote on former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum's nomination to be se  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Restoring Energy Dominance Will Require an All-of-the-Above Approach Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, over the last four years the Biden administration set our energy security on a dangerous path. "Administration  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Senate to Vote on ICC Sanctions Legislation Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, this past November, in an extraordinary and illegitimate move, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime   more