WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12653) on May 7, 2024, by agricultural policy analyst Joel L. Greene: * * * Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Herds The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a strain (H5N1) of highly pathogenic avian Influenza A virus (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas on March 25, 2  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and John Thune (R-South Dakota) today introduced a Senate resolution that condemns any action by the Biden Admi  more

WASHINGTON, May 6 -- Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced legislation to streamline the permitting process for broadband infrastructure projects. The Facilitating Optimal and Rapid Expansion and Siting of Telecommunications (FOREST) Act will cut down bureaucratic red tape to improve broadband access in rural America. "Regulations and red tape are making it harder for us to deploy broadband in rural America," sai  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release on May 8, 2024: U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would prevent federal government overreach on the operations of South Dakota farmers and ranchers. The bill would prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from implementing any rule or regulation requiring the mandatory use of electronic identification tags, or RFID tags, on cattle and bison. In January 2023, the U.S. Departmen  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following statement on May 9, 2024: * * * U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the United States Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next five years. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed the Senate by a vote of 88 to 4. Rounds supported this legislation which includes several provisions to benefit South Dakota airports and airline cus  more

WASHINGTON, May 11 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has designated U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) as a 2024 Fiscal Hero. This award honors lawmakers who prioritize improving the fiscal trajectory of the United States through legislation, votes and policy positions. "I am honored to receive the Fiscal Hero award once again," said Rounds. "The federal government should live within its means. It is our respon  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which includes key Thune-led provisions: "South Dakota and the nation depend on a safe, efficient, and robust national aviation system," said Thune. "This critical legislation   more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Click here to watch the video. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the consequences of the Biden administration's out-of-control regulatory regime. Thune noted that President Biden's burdensome regulations have led to increased prices for families, farmers, and small business owners while jeopardizing American energy security. Thune's remarks below (as prepared for delivery): "  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Click here to watch the video. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor about the upcoming passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. The package includes several Thune-led provisions, including an amendment to address the national pilot shortage, legislation to increase competitiveness for American drones, and legislation to improve the flying experience for   more