Let’s Get to Work by Sen. John Thune
On January 3, 2025, the new Republican majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives were sworn in and I officially took over as Senate majority leader, and in a few weeks President Trump will take the oath of office. We have our work cut out for us to get this country back on the right track, and we are not wasting any time getting to work.
Much of the work we have to do is addressing the damage that the Biden administration has done over the last four years. We will need to secure the border, and that means providing the funding needed to execute the strong border policies we can expect from President Trump on day one. We will also need to lift some of the burdensome and expensive government regulations that have held our economy back.
Then of course we need to extend the tax relief Republicans delivered during the first Trump administration and pass an overdue farm bill with updated programs for farmers and ranchers that reflect current agricultural needs. And we will need to invest in military readiness, a task that has only grown more important as the world has grown less stable in recent years.
There’s a lot of important work to get done, and the Republican Congress and the Trump administration will work hard to deliver. I’m humbled by the trust that my colleagues have put in me to lead this Senate Republican majority, and I will work every day to be worthy of that trust.
Of course, I find myself in this position first and foremost because of the trust that the people of South Dakota have placed in me. Without that trust, I would not have had the opportunity to serve at all, let alone serve as majority leader of the United States Senate. And my first priority will always be to serve South Dakota.
I’m proud to be a son of small-town South Dakota. Growing up in Murdo I learned the character of South Dakotans – the work ethic, the commitment to freedom coupled with a belief in personal responsibility, the sense of responsibility to the broader community. As a kid, I knew that if a roof collapsed under the weight of snow, or a windstorm came through and wiped out a barn, or we lost a friend or family member, the whole community would rally around to help. And that same attitude is reflected in towns across our state.
The South Dakota values I learned growing up helped shape my political philosophy: my belief that government should be limited, and that it is best when it’s closest to the people; that freedom is a sacred gift and must be defended; that with freedom comes responsibility; and that while government is necessary, government is not where we should look for salvation.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and for the South Dakota values that guide my service. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my family: to my parents Harold and Pat, to my wife Kimberley, and to my two daughters and their families. And I thank God, who has richly blessed me in every way. Now let’s get to work.
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