Cattle groups hail Thune as pick for Senate Majority Leader

Beef and ranch industry groups have issued statements of support for the selection of Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.) as Senate Majority Leader for the 119th Congress.

Thune currently serves in the 118th Congress on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee; the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, and the Finance Committee. He serves as ranking member of the Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on communications, media and broadband and as ranking member of the Finance Committee's subcommittee on taxation and IRS oversight.

He also serves as the Senate Republican whip and previously served as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee in 2009-11 and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in 2012-18.

In a news release, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association's (NCBA) congratulated Thune for being selected as the next Senate Majority Leader:

"Sen. Thune has long been a strong ally for cattle producers and is an excellent choice to secure meaningful relief for cattle producers as he leads the Senate,” NCBA vice president of government affairs Ethan Lane said. “Throughout his career, Sen. Thune has led the effort to repeal the federal estate tax and fought to ensure family farms and ranches are able to be passed down to future generations. With crucial tax provisions set to expire at the end of 2025, NCBA looks forward to continuing to work with the new majority leader to deliver critical tax relief to producers in the 119th Congress.”

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NCBA has represented America's cattle producers since 1898 to preserve the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef, with efforts made possible through membership contributions.

The Public Lands Council (PLC) also congratulated Thune on being selected as majority leader in its announcement.

“Ranchers across the West have something to celebrate with Senator Thune, a champion of livestock production and rural communities, being selected by his peers to be Senate Majority Leader,” PLC executive director Kaitlynn Glover said. “His work protecting grazing rights on public lands and streamlining the federal permitting process is in lockstep with the needs of livestock producers – who are in dire need of regulatory relief. Ranchers stand ready to work with the soon-to-be majority leader to finally reduce the prevalence of catastrophic wildfires by unleashing the benefits of grazing and voluntary conservation work.”

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PLC represents public lands ranchers in Washington, D.C. Since 1968, PLC has worked with Congress and the federal land management agencies to maintain a stable business environment in which livestock producers can conserve the West and feed the nation and world.