Senator Thune 2020 Graduation Address

Congratulations, class of 2020. 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 you guys are having to go through. But, as I’ve experienced in my life, when I’ve gone through adversity, oftentimes it strengthens my faith, gives me a greater appreciation for my family and friends, and challenges me to reexamine my priorities. Those seem like three important lessons for graduating seniors. And for those of you leaving “the nest” next year, I know your parents enjoyed this quality time with you. So my hope is that somewhere down the road, as you look back on this experience, it will be something that you have learned from and something that you have grown from.

I grew up in the small town of Murdo. I don’t know if any of you know where that is, but it’s a small town of about 500 people. My dad was a teacher, coach, athletic director, and he drove the bus at my school. My mom was the school librarian. It meant there wasn’t anywhere I could go to get away from my parents. But it also meant that growing up, I saw firsthand the dedication of our educators.

And so, I want to take a moment to thank your teachers, your school officials, and their staff for their very hard work and dedication – and especially for going above and beyond in these past few weeks to make it possible for you to continue to pursue your studies and to reach this important milestone.

As a 1979 high school graduate, just saying “class of 2020” makes me feel old. Even 40 years down the road, I still remember my high school experience. But I don’t remember the exams or papers or even my exact GPA. What I do remember is my friends, my teachers, my coaches, and the many lessons that I learned. Trust me, that’s what you’ll remember, too. 

Keep hanging in there. Stay strong. Keep doing the work. If you do, I can assure you that it will pay off in the future.

When I was growing up in Murdo, I never thought that I would be addressing a class of graduating seniors as your U.S. senator. But just remember: Sometimes doors open to you and don’t be afraid to push them open to see what’s on the other side. If an opportunity comes along, go for it. You can’t imagine where it can take you. Be difference makers.

Senator Thune Fourth of July Op-Ed

Two hundred and forty-five years ago, a group of patriots stood up and declared independence for themselves and their countrymen. They did this despite the risk to their own lives and with no promise that their campaign for freedom would succeed. All they had was a ragtag team of volunteer soldiers who were willing to stand up to a global empire – funds were tight, weapons were scarce, and there was still much disagreement over the direction this new country should go. 

What they knew to be true, though, was they had the strength of a just cause and the desire for freedom. Despite the long odds, succeed they did. And thus, our country was founded upon that spirit of patriotism, bravery, and freedom – and we’ve never looked back. 

The famed document our Founders adopted on July 4, 1776, laid out the case for the colonies’ independence from Britain. It proclaimed that government derives its power from the governed and that it is, therefore, the right of the people to change their government. This was a radical idea during the era of kings and queens and emperors, but it has stood the test of time and has remained a core tenet of our nation to this day. 

Our Founding Fathers wanted to form a government – a democratic republic – that empowered the people to decide their representation through elections. Our current government as we know it today wasn’t created until the signing of the Constitution 11 years later, but the ideas put forth in the Declaration of Independence are woven into the very fabric of our democratic system.

The rich history of our Founding Fathers is still evident today. Not just in the monuments and statues erected in their honor, but also in the adventurous, freedom-loving American spirit. We are a people of free thought and independence, resiliency and risk-taking, loyalty and faith. These qualities drove history’s patriots to fight for the independence we enjoy today, which has been preserved by generations of selfless Americans who have answered the call to defend it. These inspiring traits made our Founding Fathers successful in creating the greatest country the earth has ever known. These are still the qualities that make America a nation of deep-rooted communities, religious diversity, and strong family ties.

Each year on the Fourth of July, we join together as a country to celebrate our nation’s founding and take pride in the great things we’ve accomplished together. Through the centuries, there have been ups and downs, but we toast to these cherished words that have helped guide our country through our ever-evolving journey: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

America has always promised something unique to its people: to be a country where you can pursue your dreams, find happiness, and earn success—opportunities we cherish every day in South Dakota.

I wish every American a happy Independence Day. I hope that we can all strive to fulfill our Founders’ promise and pass along the great American spirit for generations to come. 

Senator Thune Op-Ed on Boarder Crisis

The situation at our southern border is spiraling out of control, and there is a direct connection to the policies the Biden administration put into place. I recently went down to our southern border to see the conditions firsthand and learn the truth about the growing humanitarian crisis that the Biden administration has blocked the press from covering.

Make no mistake – despite the efforts of the administration to distract and downplay, this is a crisis. And as long as the Biden administration continues to implement policies that give the impression of an open, porous border, people are going to keep flooding into our country.

What I saw on the border was harrowing. Border Patrol officers are overwhelmed and under-supported, smugglers who often have close ties to drug cartels are profiting massively, drugs are slipping through the cracks of an overwhelmed system, and there are hundreds of kids scared and alone. One facility we toured that was designed to handle no more than 250 people under COVID safety guidelines is currently handling 4,200 people, and many of them are testing positive for COVID-19.

The Biden administration halfheartedly told migrants “don’t come,” but its relaxed, open-border policies say otherwise. The message received by prospective migrants is: If you can make it to the U.S. border and claim asylum, whether legitimate or not – even if you illegally cross the border – you’re in. And the stoplight is stuck on green.

One of the most heartbreaking loopholes created by the Biden administration incentivizes migrants to bring along very young children because the administration won’t deport anyone with a child who is 6 years or younger. This change sent the message that a child is an automatic passport into the United States. Caught in between are the children being taken and exploited as a “ticket” into our country. It was shocking to see hundreds of very young children packed into these border facilities, and even more horrible to hear about the traumatic journeys they’ve made from countries thousands of miles away. Talking to Border Patrol officers, there’s no doubt that migrants have been incentivized to make the dangerous trek by welcoming policies and loopholes put in place by this administration.

The administration isn’t blocking illegal border crossings, but they are blocking the press and transparency on the crisis they created. As a group of United States Senators, we were told not to document what we saw and even to delete photos we took. This administration knows how bad the situation at the southern border looks for immigration policies long championed by Democrats – especially after downplaying and ridiculing the improvements President Trump made to discourage migrants and secure our border. President Biden should be less concerned with optics and more concerned with making common-sense changes to his immigration policies. There’s no excuse for blocking the press and attempting to hide this crisis from the American people.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this situation is that this crisis would have been totally avoidable if the administration had listened to the warnings of our border experts. But, once again, President Biden caved to his political left, and the result is a humanitarian and public safety emergency that is worsening by the day.

In order to end the Biden border crisis, the administration should support strong border security, stop asylum abuse, and crack down on the traffickers and cartels that prey on migrants. President Biden has the power to start ending this crisis today by enforcing immigration law and strongly stating that the way to come to this country is to come legally. He’s choosing not to take any of the steps necessary to improve the terrible conditions I saw firsthand.

For the sake of the unaccompanied children and all those trying to cross our borders, and for the sake of the Americans who have been endangered by his policies, I hope the president will visit the border to see the crisis for himself and take action to secure our border.

Fischer Monthly Newsletter

Dear Friend,

Over the month of August, I had the pleasure of visiting with Nebraskans in communities across our state. A vital part of my job as your U.S. Senator is listening to your concerns and suggestions about solving the problems facing our country. Families, community leaders, ag producers, businesses owners, and more all took time out of their busy lives to share their input with me. Now, I bring this feedback back to the U.S. Senate with me as we begin the fall legislative work period.

I traveled over 2,600 miles in our state during August making stops from Nebraska City to Chadron, Ainsworth to Red Cloud, and many towns in between. So far this year, I've held 16 Listening Sessions in metropolitan and rural communities, from Lincoln and Omaha to Kimball, Ord, and Geneva.

Nebraskans are engaged on a number of issues, including the growing North Korean missile threat, our over-complicated, outdated tax code, and burdensome regulations from the federal government. They care deeply about our country, and they want to help make America a better place for our children and grandchildren.

It was a wonderful and productive month in Nebraska. Thank you to all those who shared their feedback with me. I return to the Senate inspired by new ideas and full of energy to take on the wide array of challenges ahead.

Read on for more updates from my month traveling Nebraska.

Highlighting Nebraska Infrastructure

Infrastructure connects us. It connects parents to children, products to consumers, and students to schools. That is why bolstering our infrastructure has always been a top priority for me. On August 22, I was pleased to welcome U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao to Omaha for a roundtable with Nebraska transportation stakeholders. We discussed several ideas to improve our nation's urban and rural transportation, including how we can improve the regulatory process and move projects forward at a faster rate.

Secretary Chao saw firsthand that Nebraskans are at the forefront of moving people and goods across the country. Through our conversation, it was clear that Secretary Chao and I share a commitment to long-term infrastructure policy and funding. I look forward to building on our productive discussion as I continue to bring Nebraska ideas to the Senate.

Expanding Opportunities for Nebraska Products

In August, President Donald Trump announced a new U.S. deal to export American pork to Argentina. This trade deal is a win-win that will expand market access opportunities for Nebraska's pork producers and provide consumers in Argentina with high-quality pork from our state. As the 6th highest pork producer in the nation, Nebraska will benefit greatly from this agreement. I applaud the administration for following through on its promise to get better deals for our producers who work hard to feed the world every day.

A Qualified Nebraskan Nominated for the Eighth Circuit Court

I was pleased to see President Trump's nomination of Leonard (Steve) Grasz to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Senator Ben Sasse and I recommended Grasz to fill a vacancy on the Eighth Circuit earlier this year.

Steve Grasz has sterling credentials and impressive experience. His cases have been before the highest courts in Nebraska and our nation. He is currently Senior Counsel at Husch Blackwell LLP in Omaha. Previously, Grasz served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the state of Nebraska from 1991-2002 and received his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Moreover, Steve's temperament, integrity, and character are absolutely superb. I look forward to seeing him swiftly confirmed by the Senate.