August 10th, 2009 - Washington, D.C. - Senator John Thune today conducted a Senate Commerce Surface Transportation Subcommittee hearing at Sioux Falls City Hall regarding ways to address surface transportation needs in rural America. At the hearing, Senator Thune heard testimony from state and business leaders about how to improve highways, rail service, and trucking in states like South Dakota.
"In the future, South Dakota's economy will increasingly rely on an efficient and safe system to transport goods to markets," said Thune. "I appreciate the opportunity to gather insight from experts at the state level and in the private sector as Congress works to craft the next multi-year surface transportation bill. This kind of expertise will help as I work with my colleagues to ensure that South Dakota's transportation needs are not left behind."
The hearing included testimony from Darin Bergquist, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Transportation; Larry Anderson, President of A & A Express; Jack Parliament, President of D&I Railroad; Lisa Richardson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association; and Matt Rose, Commissioner of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, and Chief Executive Officer of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway.
Since being elected to Congress in 1996, Senator Thune has worked in crafting the last two surface transportation bills. Senator Thune currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security.
|
Radio Clip | 
Television Clip
