WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) signed onto the Agricultural Security Risk Review Act, a bipartisan bill which would formally name the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The Agricultural Security Risk Review Act would allow USDA to analyze any foreign investment into our nation's food supply. "COVID-19 has re  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow meat and poultry products that have been inspected by state-approved meat and poultry inspection programs to be donated or sold across state lines. COVID-19 outbreaks in processing facilit  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Rep. Collin C. Peterson, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release: In a bipartisan letter to President Donald Trump Friday, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota urged the Administration to provide guidance on how the Federal Emergency Management Agency can help farmers depopulate and dispose of livestock following the closure of meatpacking plants due to coronavirus outbreaks and worker safety concerns. Joining Peterson on the letter is H  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has introduced legislation to improve flexibility for state, local and tribal governments in using existing COVID-19 relief funds. The legislation permits up to 25 percent of funds already allocated to local governments through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to cover lost tax revenue. State, local and tribal tax revenues fund vital services suc  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following statement after the passage of the Taiwan legislation (S. 249), he cosponsored that calls for the State Secretary to develop a strategy for Taiwan to regain observer status in the World Health Organization: "With each passing day, we learn more about China's failure to alert the world to the seriousness of COVID-19. Meanwhile, Taiwan has been a reliable partner in the global fight against the pandemic. "I'm pleased t  more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging them to pass the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act as part of the fed  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) voted in favor of the Lee/Leahy amendment, which provides federal law enforcement with the tools they need to protect Americans from foreign powers while also better protecting the civil liberties of all Americans. It passed by a vote of 77-19. FISA reauthorization is being considered in the Senate this week, with a final vote expected tomorrow. "The FBI's gross mishandling  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and five other senators to introduce legislation to foster efficient markets while increasing competition and transparency among meat packers who purchase livestock directly from producers. This bill will require that a minimum of 50 percent of a meat packer's weekly volume of beef slaughter be purchased on the open or spot market. "  more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) to introduce legislation that would allow larger nonprofits such as YMCAs and churches to receive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. "Countless Americans are struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, and faith-based nonprofit groups are once again stepping up   more

WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined a bipartisan group of senators to send a letter to Congressional leaders, seeking additional funding for programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would assist pork producers who are being forced to depopulate livestock herds because of restaurant and meat processing plant closures during the pandemic. Farmers are facing an animal welfare crisis due t  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow meat and poultry products that have been inspected by state-approved meat and poultry inspection programs to be donated or sold across state lines. COVID-19 outbreaks in processing facilities, like the one at the Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls,   more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: In the third plank of his Rancher Relief Plan to provide urgent support to Montana cattle producers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jon Tester reintroduced--for the first time ever with a Republican--his resolution to support country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef products along with Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Tester, the Senate's only working farmer, is pushing to bring back laws and  more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following transcript: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) joined PBS' "Newshour" last night to discuss additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and the need for business liability protections in any potential future COVID-19 legislation. Today, Thune joined Fox News' "America's Newsroom" to discuss the need to hold China accountable for the spread and misinformation of the coronavirus pandemic. PBS' "Newshour" Click here  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following remarks on coronavirus outbreak: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) discussed this week's important activity in the Senate, including various committee hearings concerning the coronavirus outbreak. For example, the Senate Commerce Committee, of which Thune is a member, will hold a hearing regarding the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to maintain and expand reliable high-speed broadband access during the pandemic.  more

WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week continued his work to strengthen the cattle market for South Dakota's producers who are struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. Thune continued to press the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ ) to investigate potential anticompetitive activities in the highly concentrated beef packing sector, urged th  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, this week continued his work to strengthen the cattle market for South Dakota's producers who are struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. Thune continued to press the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ ) to investigate potential anticompetitive activities in the highly concentrated beef packing sector, urged th  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allow meat and poultry products that have been inspected by state-approved meat and poultry inspection programs to be donated or sold across state lines. COVID-19 outbreaks in processing facilities, like  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following statement: I can't gloss over the fact that these are unusual times. This isn't a normal high school graduation. And this hasn't been a normal semester. I know this is a wonderful time of the year when the spring season rolls around. There should've been spring sports and music recitals and prom and, of course, a walk across the stage to get your diploma. I want to tell you that I feel your pain, and I appreciate what  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Reps. Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-Calif.) and Brian Mast (R-Fla.) today introduced the End Military-Connected Child Abuse and Neglect Act. The bipartisan and bicameral bill would improve how the Department of Defense tracks and responds to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring on military installations or involving military   more

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced a resolution to support country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef products in the United States in an effort to provide critical support to American cattle producers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution, cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), urges the U.S. to enter into   more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and 16 of their Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting that the department investigate potential anticompetitive activities in the highly concentrated beef packing sector. "The lack of competition in the meatpacking industry has resulted in a vulnerable beef supply chain, w  more

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and 16 of their Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice requesting that the department investigate potential anticompetitive activities in the highly concentrated beef packing sector. "The lack of competition in the meatpacking ind  more