John Thune grew up in Murdo, South Dakota. His interest in politics was sparked at a young age after making five of six free throws during a freshman high school basketball game. He was later greeted by a spectator who said, “I noticed you missed one.” That spectator happened to be a well-known sports enthusiast and then-South Dakota U.S. Rep. Jim Abdnor. The introduction was the start of a friendship that ignited John’s career in public service.
John received his undergraduate degree at Biola University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota. Upon completion of his master’s degree in 1984, he married Kimberley Weems, a native of Doland, South Dakota.
Supporting South Dakota Agriculture
Agriculture is the lifeblood and economic engine of South Dakota. That’s why I believe it’s critical that we have a seat at the table when it comes to negotiating and crafting policies that directly affect our state’s economy and our hardworking farmers and ranchers. I’m proud to be a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee where I advocate for South Dakota agriculture as we craft farm bills and other important legislation. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve fought to grow South Dakota’s agriculture economy and to protect its farming families by actively pursuing sound agriculture and land stewardship policies, and I’m thankful to have had the advice and support of South Dakota’s agriculture community along the way.
Our farmers and ranchers work day in and day out, in heat and frost, to help feed billions of people across the world. Our grocery store shelves stay stocked because of the work farmers and ranchers do. On top of this burden, South Dakota agriculture producers often face unimaginable stress just keeping their operations going through unpredictable weather, trade uncertainties, challenging market conditions, burdensome government regulations, and much more. No matter the hardship, I’m always in their corner. I will keep doing everything I can to ensure their needs are met so they can continue to help feed our state, nation, and world.
Death Tax
For many farmers and ranchers, their money is often tied up in their land – not the bank. The death tax can be devastating to family farms, ranches, and businesses and prevent them from being passed to the next generation. If the federal government demands a substantial portion of the estate and much of the farm’s money is tied up in the land, there’s a good chance that the family will not have enough money in the bank to pay the IRS. As a result, they may have to start selling off land – the literal foundation of their farming operation. The government should not be in the business of shuttering family farms and ranches and family businesses. That’s why I’ve been a strong advocate for permanently ending the death tax. I will continue to do everything I can to protect South Dakota’s family farms and ranches.
Assistance with USDA
As always, I stand ready to offer assistance to farmers, ranchers, and others in the agriculture community who encounter challenges with current laws and policies administered by USDA.
Please feel free to reach out to me or my staff with any issues or concerns you have with USDA or any other federal agency.
Standing Up for 2nd Amendment Rights
I strongly support the Second Amendment, which protects "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." While others may disagree, I firmly believe the plain language of the Second Amendment guarantees the individual right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. This must include robust due process protections to guard against any policies that would suspend or curtail someone's lawful Second Amendment right. Firearms have long been a part of the history and culture of South Dakota. Like many South Dakotans, I have a deep respect and appreciation for firearms, hunting, and the outdoors, which was instilled in me from a young age. Responsible use of firearms for sporting purposes and personal protection are valued components of South Dakota’s heritage, ones that support important hunting and tourism industries and protect our personal liberties. As South Dakota’s U.S. Senator, I take seriously my responsibility to represent and protect your right to bear arms, and I remain a vigilant advocate for the Second Amendment and for protecting the rights of South Dakota gun owners.
Strengthening American Energy Security
Since being elected to Congress, I have worked to strengthen America’s energy security and increase the availability and use of alternative energy sources. I believe that supporting home-grown, American-made energy sources is important, not only for our economy and the environment, but also for our national security. Reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign governments’ energy supplies is a vital part of our nation’s safety and security. I will continue to promote pro-growth energy and environmental policies and work to reduce regulatory hurdles for stakeholders. By encouraging domestic energy production, increasing America’s renewable energy supply, and developing more efficient technology, we can ultimately achieve lower energy costs, lower emissions, greater energy independence, and a stronger economy.
Home-Grown Energy
Biofuels are central to American agriculture and our energy security. Ethanol and biodiesels create jobs, add value to every bushel of harvested corn, bolster our energy independence, and provide an affordable, cleaner fuel choice for consumers. In a very short period of time, our state has become one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to research, production, and use of renewable energy.
I have long supported the use of higher blends of biofuels, such as the year-round sale of E15 fuel, which is a readily available energy solution to leverage American agriculture and displace foreign sources of oil, all while lowering transportation emissions. I continue to fight to restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard, including robust blending targets, the denial of small refinery exemptions, and pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to approve advanced fuels like ethanol derived from corn kernel fiber..
Biofuels and the South Dakota agriculture jobs and communities they support will continue to be a priority for me. I’m proud to support an industry powered by hardworking farmers and cutting-edge science in rural America. I will always stand for home-grown energy dominance, lower fuel costs, and consumer choice.
A Reliable Connection for Rural America
The internet has brought Americans a host of benefits – from a wealth of information to unparalleled convenience to new opportunities for commerce and education to new methods of communication. South Dakotans and other Americans who live in rural areas deserve access to high-speed broadband networks. Expanding internet access in rural America has long been a priority for me, and building and maintaining reliable networks across the United States has never been more critical. As the internet becomes more vital to everyday life, reliable broadband networks are an essential component to help rural Americans stay connected. I will continue to support broadband investment at the Federal Communications Commission to close the digital divide and ensure rural areas have access to the internet.
The Race to 5G
Reliable, fast internet is an essential element of our nation’s infrastructure. Like roads and bridges and railways and airports, strong internet networks keep our economy going. 5G mobile broadband technology has the power to change the way we interact with the internet. 5G will be 100 times faster and support 100 times as many devices, enabling massive breakthroughs in health care, transportation, agriculture, and other key industries. I've been supportive of this breakthrough technology from the beginning. In fact, working alongside local leaders, we made Sioux Falls one of the first cities in the country to deploy a 5G network.
As ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, I am committed to advancing smart federal policy to keep South Dakota at the forefront of innovation. We need to remove regulatory and permitting hurdles and ensure that companies have access to the spectrum they need to build strong networks. I’ll continue to work to advance nationwide 5G deployment and fight for our rural communities that deserve to have the full benefits of the 5G revolution. This is a race that we cannot afford to lose.
Holding Big Tech Accountable
I strongly believe that social media users should have more due process and transparency in how their content is being shaped and censored.
Today, big tech companies hold immense power because they, in many ways, filter the content that Americans see and consume online. These corporations have developed high-powered, opaque algorithms that learn online behavior and deliver customized results based on what we search, see, and share online. How they do it is largely unknown, making it impossible for users to know how their online experience is being shaped. These platforms have also started to act as the arbiters of truth by moderating and censoring user-generated political content – political speech, essentially.
I’ve been a long-time advocate for holding big tech accountable for its secretive content moderation and censorship practices. I’ve held multiple hearings on this topic over the years and have introduced several bipartisan pieces of legislation that would help strengthen online transparency and accountability. I will continue to be a tireless advocate for the American people who, again, deserve to know how their information is being treated by Big Tech.
Automated vehicles
Each year, more than 35,000 people die in automobile accidents, and more than 90 percent of those accidents can be attributed to human error. That’s why automated vehicles present an opportunity to make incredible safety improvements. Automated vehicles will also allow urban planners to rethink challenges like parking and traffic, and they could drastically improve the quality of life for disabled and elderly Americans who often have reduced mobility. Given the potential I see in automated vehicles, I’ve been working to develop a bipartisan legislative framework for the safe testing and deployment of automated vehicles.
Advancing AV technology is not just a vehicle safety issue. It’s an issue of U.S. leadership and global competitiveness. While U.S. companies currently lead the world in AV technology, other nations like China are already acting boldly to take the lead. Investing in AV technology here in the United States not only strengthens the resilience of the auto industry, but also the nation’s industrial base and national security.
I will continue to work on efforts to harness the safety, quality of life, and economic benefits of this critical emerging technology.
Promoting Economic Growth and Small Business
The economy is the number one issue that affects Americans’ daily lives. The ability to have a good-paying job to support yourself and your family is top of mind for most Americans. That’s why I’m a staunch advocate of policies that support job creators and strengthen our economy. Oftentimes the best thing Washington can do is get out of the way – that means reducing taxes, cutting back on government red tape, and streamlining programs that encourage workforce participation.
As a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Commerce Committee, and the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue working to ensure South Dakota’s small businesses, farms, and ranches are competing in an environment that encourages them to grow, create new jobs, and build healthier communities. I will continuously pursue pro-growth policies that will help strengthen our economy, increase wages, and lessen the burden on businesses.
Taxes
Hardworking South Dakotans should be able to keep more of what they earn, and one of my top priorities it to lower their tax burden. I have long supported tax relief for families, small businesses, farms, and ranches in South Dakota and around the country. In 2017, when Republicans were in control in Washington, we passed one of the most extensive overhauls of our tax code in American history. We lowered taxes for families and small businesses, simplified the tax filing process, and made it easier to save for retirement. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to enact legislation to make our tax code more focused on economic growth and one that allows taxpayers to keep even more of their hard-earned money.
Every American family must live within a budget, and the federal government should do the same. For too long, reckless government spending has been the norm in Washington. In particular, spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, among other programs, continues to grow at an unsustainable rate.
Hard-earned taxpayer dollars should be spent carefully and deliberately by the federal government. I stand ready to reduce spending, enact meaningful reforms to strengthen existing programs, and ultimately put our nation’s fiscal house back in order. It will take bipartisan cooperation to make these tough decisions, but the consequences of kicking the can down the road are too great for Congress not to take meaningful action.
America must have a strong military to deter would-be adversaries and, when diplomatic efforts fail, protect our nation from attack or imminent harm. As South Dakota’s U.S. senator, I strive to ensure our armed forces, intelligence agencies, and law enforcement officials are provided with the tools they need to prevent attacks against our country and our citizens. Members of our all-volunteer military have taken action to bring the fight to enemies around the globe and protect our nation. These men and women have dismantled terrorist safe-havens, disrupted terror groups, thwarted attacks, hunted down and delivered justice to Osama bin Laden, and put their own lives at risk to make our world a safer place. As long as there are forces in this world that seek to challenge the democratic ideals and freedoms of our country, we must remain vigilant and strive to preserve liberty and peace for our people.
The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most essential measures Congress passes every year. This legislation invests in improving the quality of life for our military members and their families and focuses on restoring military readiness to ensure our nation is prepared to meet the threats posed by major powers like Russia and China. I’ve been proud to support the NDAA every year I’ve been in Congress. A strong American military will help strengthen and stabilize our friends and allies and promote democracy, human rights, and other American values across the globe.
As South Dakota’s senator, I’ve had the special opportunity to interact with many of South Dakota’s men and women in uniform and their families. They are people of purpose and community, driven by a love of country and a calling to protect the innocent from danger. I am grateful every day to the members of our nation’s military, who stand guard around the world so we can live in peace and freedom. I am also profoundly grateful to their families, who sacrifice time with their loved ones and shoulder many tasks alone to ensure their loved ones can complete their mission.
Ellsworth Air Force Base
I am incredibly proud that South Dakota and Ellsworth Air Force Base were chosen to serve as the main operating base for the future B-21 stealth bomber. I am committed to ensuring that the base has everything it needs as it evolves into the “Home of the Raider” and continues to serve as one of our nation’s essential military assets for decades to come.
Hosting the B-21 is a once-in-a-generation win for South Dakota, and it is all the more momentous when you consider how close we came to not having an Air Force base West River at all. Ellsworth was placed on the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list just months after I arrived in the Senate in 2005. We dug in, put up a fight, and convinced the BRAC commission that Ellsworth was a vital national security asset. It’s been a team effort, from the local communities in Box Elder and Rapid City to state partners like the Ellsworth Development Authority and strong relationships with the base and Air Force leaders. In 16 years, Ellsworth went from imminent closure to being on the cutting edge of America’s national security and strategic deterrence. One of the most transformative steps taken to prepare for the future of the base was the decades-long effort to quadruple the local training airspace, the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC). The PRTC is now the largest training air space in the continental United States and can be used for large force exercises that draw combat aircraft from across the country. Advanced aircraft need larger training space, and the PRTC gave us an edge in winning the B-21 mission.
I remain steadfast in my support for the mission and the men and women of the 28th Bomb Wing who have put Ellsworth on the map, and I am thrilled for the next chapter with the B-21, which will keep it there.
Stronger Border Security
Border security is an essential part of national security. Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, should take our responsibility seriously to protect our nation by ensuring that our borders are secure. When our borders are not sufficiently secure, or there’s no accountability for those who break our laws, it only encourages continued illegal immigration. A porous border leaves us susceptible to illegal entry by gang members, human traffickers, drug dealers, and weapons traffickers. I have seen the crisis on our southern border firsthand, and I support strong immigration enforcement policies and ending this humanitarian crisis that has overwhelmed our resources at the border. As part of the solution, we must invest in our border, stop asylum abuse, and crack down on the traffickers and cartels that prey on migrants.
Improving the Immigration System
In many ways, immigration has helped build this country. I strongly support making sure that the United States continues to offer a chance for individuals to achieve their dream of a better life and help them positively contribute to our nation. I also support temporary worker programs, like the H-2B visa program, which allows individuals from other countries to come to the United States for a limited time to work before returning to their home countries. This is a critical program that supplements our domestic workforce and enables South Dakota businesses, like those in the tourism industry, to handle peak seasonal demand.
Growing up in Murdo, South Dakota, as the son of two educators and a father of two daughters who attended public schools, I understand the challenges that communities across the state face in ensuring a high-quality education for all students. I also know the importance that families in South Dakota place on education so their kids can reach their full potential.
I believe that education decisions are best left to those who know students the best – parents, teachers, and local school boards – not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Therefore, any education decisions considered by the federal government should be focused on giving schools the flexibility they need, while still holding them accountable to taxpayers. The federal government must also recognize the unique needs of rural areas as it considers public education policy.
In addition to the importance of a local focus on education, I also support federal education programs that benefit South Dakota, like the Impact Aid Program, which compensates local school districts that have lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal property or federal activities.
I also believe every student should have the chance to pursue post-secondary education, whether it’s a four-year degree or a tech school program. I’ll support efforts to responsibly foster academic opportunities, and I will continue promoting sensible reforms that expand opportunities for students and graduates to further their educational opportunities and help them join the workforce.
Standing Up for Life
As a member of Congress, I have a 100 percent pro-life voting record and have consistently supported a ban on abortion. For my work to promote a culture of life, I have consistently received an A+ on the Susan B. Anthony List pro-life scorecard.
I am proud to stand beside all those who work to secure the right to life of unborn Americans. The truth is that every human being, born and unborn, is created in the image and likeness of God and has infinite dignity and value. I’ll continue fighting in Congress to defend those who cannot speak for themselves.
Leading the Way in Clean Energy
There’s a lot to love about South Dakota not the least of which is the natural beauty of our land. I have a deep appreciation for South Dakota’s clean air and water, and I support clean energy investments that help boost our economy – not cripple it.
South Dakota is already leading the way in clean energy, like wind and hydropower. Plus, our strong agriculture sector allows for the production of renewable fuels, like ethanol and biodiesel. In fact, approximately 70 percent of South Dakota energy generation comes from renewable sources. I will continue to support an all-of-the-above approach to clean energy.
International markets are essential to South Dakota producers’ and small businesses’ bottom lines. American farmers, ranchers, and business owners need access to more than 95 percent of the world population beyond our borders. Our state may be small in population, but we are prolific in production, ranking among the top 10 states in exporting corn, wheat, cattle, soybeans, and hay. As our farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers become even more productive, we need to continue opening new markets around the world to our products. That’s why America can’t afford to stand still on trade while other nations sign new deals that benefit their farmers and manufacturers but disadvantage American producers.
We must also balance efforts to open new markets for American-made goods with strengthening and enforcing trade laws that hold our trading partners accountable and ensure they are playing by the rules. I will continue to advocate for new trade deals that open markets to our products and give American producers the ability to compete on a level playing field.
South Dakota’s wide-open spaces mean the nearest hospital or airport can be many miles away. Federal funding is essential for ensuring that South Dakota’s highways and bridges are properly maintained. I support common-sense infrastructure investments and long-term federal policy, which provides stability and helps keep roads safe for South Dakotans. This investment also ensures efficient movement of goods, and the people who produce them, that are vital to a host of South Dakota industries, including agriculture and tourism. Since being elected to Congress, I have been a strong advocate for infrastructure funding to ensure South Dakota’s transportation needs are met.
Essential Air Service
The Essential Air Service program is especially important in rural states like South Dakota. Ensuring access in and out of these smaller communities makes our local economies stronger, provides consumers with greater choices, and makes the entire commercial airline network more valuable. I have been working to maintain the Essential Air Service for years and have strongly discouraged any moves by the U.S. Department of Transportation that threatens reliable air travel for our smaller airports like Pierre and Watertown.
Honoring Our Veterans
For generations, South Dakotans have proudly answered the call to duty and served our country with honor and distinction, from the two world wars to Korea to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf to the Middle East. South Dakota has undoubtedly punched above its weight when it comes to military service. As the world has become more complex and dangerous, I am reminded daily of the freedoms and security we enjoy because of the selfless service of our veterans across our state and nation.
I grew up in South Dakota with a deep appreciation for our military and veterans. My father was a fighter pilot who flew Hellcats off the U.S.S. Intrepid in the Pacific theater during World War II. I came to know the Greatest Generation through him – their humility, quiet service, deep patriotism, and dedication to the cause of freedom. I feel tremendous pride for what he, and so many other brave South Dakotans, have done for our great country.
We can never repay the full cost of freedom that was earned on our behalf, but we can make sure that our veterans know that we are forever grateful for their service. Because of them, we can still call America a beacon of hope and opportunity around the world. It is the honor of my life to represent South Dakota veterans in Congress. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate, veterans service organizations, and South Dakota veterans to ensure America’s veterans have the resources, support, and respect they need and deserve once their military service has ended.
Putting Patients First
I am committed to advancing common-sense, patient-centered health care solutions. We need to focus on solutions that will help make health care more affordable for all Americans, rather than expand the government’s role in providing health care. I support proposals that would make the private insurance market more competitive and ensure individuals and families have choices when it comes to their health care needs.
Supporting Rural Health Care
For Americans in rural parts of our country, a health care visit can mean hours on the road and limited options for care. As a member of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, I support initiatives to strengthen access to care in the most remote areas of the country. South Dakota has long been a leader in telehealth, which helps ensure that patients in rural areas have access to needed primary and specialty care. We have made great strides to expand telehealth, both when it comes to building infrastructure and advancing reimbursement. I’m committed to continuing this momentum.
I am grateful for the rich traditions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people that are woven into the fabric of South Dakota’s history. They are a significant part of what makes South Dakota such a unique and special place. South Dakota has been home to some of history’s greatest Native American warriors, including Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Crazy Horse. Today, we’re lucky to have a new generation of tribal leaders who continue to fight day in and day out for the communities in which they live. I know I’m not alone in considering myself extremely grateful to live in a state that honors its Native American history and traditions. Native American culture can be found in every corner of our state. Whether it’s language, food, or events, the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people have left, and are continuing to leave, an important mark on our state and nation.
Fighting for a Better Indian Health Service
I’ve been working for years to reform and modernize the broken Indian Health Service (IHS). IHS is tasked with providing health care to tribal members in South Dakota and around the country – care they depend on, but for far too long has been substandard. There are many talented and dedicated employees who work at IHS facilities in South Dakota and throughout the Great Plains, but the organization as a whole is so wrought with systemic problems that it hardly deserves the title in which it has been given. The agency can and must do better, and I will continue fighting for change.
The attacks of September 11, 2001 forced us to change the way we think about national security and how we protect our country here at home. The attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015 are a reminder that the threat of another terrorist attack is still very real. The emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh, and the continue threat from al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, present a real threat to our national security and the security of our allies. As a U.S. Senator, I strive to make sure our armed forces and law enforcement officials are provided with the tools they need to fight the war on terror and prevent further attacks against U.S. citizens. As long as there are forces in this world who oppose the democratic ideals on which our country was founded, we must remain vigilant as a nation in striving to preserve liberty and stand up to aggression.
The culture and traditions of South Dakota's nine tribes have greatly contributed to the rich history of our state and our nation. At the same time, our tribes continue to face numerous challenges. During my time in Congress, I have worked collaboratively with tribal leaders and tribal citizens to address many of these challenges at the federal level.
One important accomplishment was the enactment of the Tribal Law and Order Act. As an original cosponsor, I am proud of the changes made, including allowing federal magistrates to hold court and other proceedings in tribal court and increasing the maximum hiring age of Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement officers, both of which are a positive step forward to increased safety and rule of law in Indian Country.
Another legislative achievement was the permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. This legislation reauthorized Indian Health Service programs, and, among other important improvements, increased access to preventative care and behavioral health services, provided for collaboration between federal agencies to help improve care for Native American veterans, and required the Government Accountability Office to further examine various aspects of health care for tribal citizens.
Together we continue to look for innovative solutions to improve education, access to health care, public safety, and economic opportunity on South Dakota’s nine reservations. Though we have achieved legislative successes over the years, through strong federal, state, and tribal relationships, we can continue to improve the quality of life for tribal citizens, both on and off the reservations.
Judicial nominations should be treated the same regardless of which party controls the White House or the U.S. Senate. I look forward to reviewing the backgrounds and qualifications of all of the judicial nominees sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration. I believe that these nominees should abide by and apply the rule of law, instead of becoming activist judges who try to create law. I take very seriously the role that the U.S. Senate has when it comes to the Constitutional responsibility of "advise and consent" concerning judicial nominees.
I have long supported tax relief for families and small businesses in South Dakota. Tax relief accomplishes two important goals: it puts more money in the pockets of South Dakotans, and it grows the economy, which is why I have consistently supported legislation to make our tax code simpler, fairer, and allows taxpayers to keep more of their hard earned money. Our byzantine federal tax code tax is over 4 million words in length and imposes significant compliance burdens on families and small businesses. According to the National Taxpayer Advocate, it costs taxpayers $168 billion to comply with the tax code. Congress hasn’t overhauled our tax code since 1986 and such reform is long overdue.
In fact, comprehensive tax reform for businesses and individuals is one of the most important things we could do to stimulate economic growth. Harvard economist Dale Jorgenson has estimated that the last successful tax reform effort in 1986 grew the U.S. economy by more than $1 trillion and that a similar reform now could increase national wealth by $7 trillion over the long-term. We have an opportunity to pass bipartisan bicameral tax reform, but only if the White House is willing set aside its desire to raise taxes and instead focus on making the tax code work better for all Americans.
I know that bipartisanship in this area is possible because last year Senator Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, and I co-chaired a working group at the Senate Finance Committee dedicated to making recommendations to reform our outdated business tax system. Along with 12 other senators from both parties, we agreed on number of important principles, such as the need to lower business tax rates, address structural biases against investment in the tax code, promote American innovation, and simplify the tax code so as to improve the taxpayer experience. We also agreed that we need to move our tax system more towards taxing consumption rather than savings and investment. South Dakota is of course a great example of how to do this at the state level.
Unfortunately, rather than seriously considering pro-growth tax relief measures for businesses and individuals, the current White House has decided to issue veto-threats with regard to tax relief measures that have passed the House, such as making permanent more generous deduction limits on business equipment and the ability of taxpayers to deduct state and local sales taxes. The higher business expensing limit of $500,000 per year is especially important in a state like South Dakota because it allows small businesses, including farmers and ranchers, to deduct much more of their qualifying equipment expenses during the tax year. It's an incentive created to encourage new business investment and it’s something that small businesses should be able to rely on permanently, instead of waiting until the last minute to see if Congress will extend it again. South Dakota taxpayers deserve much greater certainty and predictability.
Tax reform holds enormous benefits to our economy, but it will only happen if there is presidential leadership and willingness in both political parties to make tough decisions for the benefit of the country and future generations. I intend to keep pushing for an overhaul of the tax code that will raise take-home pay by leaving more money in the pockets of hard-working Americans, generate more robust economic growth, and help small businesses and entrepreneurs to succeed.