Thune Statement on U.S. DOT Grant Funding for South Dakota Rail Projects

thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressThune Statement on U.S. DOT Grant Funding for South Dakota Rail Projects

“I applaud Secretary Foxx’s decision to approve these important rail projects, which will help increase rail network capacity and fluidity across our region.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) released the following statement after Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved $6 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for two South Dakota rail projects. Thune led the South Dakota congressional delegation in writing to Secretary Foxx in June and Thune followed up last month to underscore the impact that the federal funding would have when it comes to key upgrades to rail infrastructure in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and Rapid City, Pierre, and Eastern (RCP&E) Railroad partnered together in this joint project by committing $6.4 million in investments. Along with the state and private funding, the TIGER grant will provide for a total of $12.4 million that will be used for a new track siding near Philip, South Dakota, and much-needed track upgrades near Huron, South Dakota.

“I applaud Secretary Foxx’s decision to approve these important rail projects, which will help increase network capacity and fluidity across our region,” said Thune. “This funding, matched with the funds that SDDOT and RCP&E have already committed, will help ensure these important upgrades can begin without delay. These improvements will not only support job creation in the region, but they will attract future business development as well.”

Thune is the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the DOT and freight railroad matters. Thune also serves on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. Both committees underscore the critical importance that the agriculture sector has in South Dakota’s economy, and in particular, how vital rail service is when it comes to getting raw goods and commodities to markets across the United States and all over the world.

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17 thoughts on “Thune Statement on U.S. DOT Grant Funding for South Dakota Rail Projects”

    1. Not exactly “welfare” but certainly another federal program used by the DOT to reward political patronage.

      LIke most ” welfare”, TIGER needs to be defunded.

  1. If you don’t like the job Sen. Thune is doing then run against him you liberals!

    Much better to stay anonymous and shoot your mouth off without any substance….

    1. The substance is hypocrisy. Thune argues for smaller government, less spending, lower taxes… then turns around and gloats over federal handouts. Money taken from other states’ taxpayers to pay corporate bills.

      Anonymity doesn’t play into this.

      1. “Money taken from other states’ taxpayers to pay corporate bills.”

        Most likely it is money that is borrowed, not collected in taxes.

        If federal projects relied on “other states’ taxpayers” these projects wouldn’t get funded.

        Its good that you liberals are finally opposed to deficit spending.

        Welcome aboard!

              1. All federal spending is pork to someone.

                All federal spending is at the expense of someone else; otherwise, why bother taxing people?

                So, do you oppose deficit spending by the feds, or not?

                Or are you trying to weasel out by claiming that federal deficit spending is not pork if you want it; otherwise, it is pork?

                1. I suppose it comes down to priorities. This money is better spent elsewhere… or not at all. Noem’s just voting for her rail masters and claiming it’s a win for SD. A win for SD and a loss for the rest of America.

                  Meh. What do I care? Spend other people’s money on SD! WooHoo! Oh, but don’t spend money on stupid crap like burning underground garbage in Missouri.

                  1. “I suppose it comes down to priorities. This money is better spent elsewhere… or not at all.”

                    Oh I see. Since your “priorities” are different than say John Thune’s, John Thune is a “hypocrite” for spending in ways that you would not.

                    So in sum, you just came to this thread to call John Thune a name instead of actually discussing differences in “priorities”.

                    “Noem’s just voting for her rail masters and claiming it’s a win for SD. ”

                    1. Once again, we see just how much you are paying attention as this thread is about John Thune’s statement. There is another one on Noem so feel free to go there and call her a name too.
                    2. TIGER funds are grant-based, not voted on by senators or representatives, so neither Noem nor Thune voted to allocate these TIGER funds to SD.

                    But we all know why you chose to comment on this thread!

      1. No they are liberals they don’t have original thoughts…if you notice they attack all Republicans with the same attacks over and over again hoping they will stick…

  2. Like low taxes no farm programs, cut congresses pension and put them only on Social Security. Put every one on their health care.If its good enough for them its good enough for us.Term limits yes I am a Independent.

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