John Thune
U.S. Senator from South Dakota
John Randolph Thune was born in January 1961 in Pierre, South Dakota. He played basketball and earned an undergraduate degree from Biola University. He received a masters in business administration from the University of South Dakota. He worked as a legislative aid for a U.S. senator from South Dakota.
Thune served as the South Dakota Republican Party’s executive director, then the governor appointed him state railroad director. Thune then became the South Dakota Municipal League executive director.
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives and was reelected twice before running for the U.S. Senate. He lost his first bid for the Senate seat in 2002 but won in 2004. He has been reelected four times.
Thune is married to Kimberley, and they have two daughters. He is a Protestant.
In the News…
Ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communication, Media, and Broadband, Senator John Thune wrote a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, as the “Broadband Czar,” regarding the mismanaged funding under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program which was intended to expand internet access across the nation.
Senator Thune wrote, “In 2021, you were specifically tasked by President Biden to lead the administration’s efforts to expand broadband services to unserved Americans. … Despite your assurances over three years ago, rural and unserved communities continue to wait for the connectivity they were promised. Under your leadership, not a single person has been connected to the internet using the $42.45 billion allocated for the BEAD program.“
Thune continued, “Instead of focusing on delivering broadband services to unserved areas, your administration has used the BEAD program to add partisan, extralegal requirements that were never envisioned by Congress and have obstructed broadband deployment. By imposing burdensome climate change mandates on infrastructure projects, prioritizing government-owned networks over private investment, mandating the use of unionized labor in states, and seeking to regulate broadband rates, your administration has caused unnecessary delays leaving millions of Americans unconnected.“
Eight other senators signed the letter as well.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Senator Thune today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable John Thune
Senator from South Dakota
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
