Thune Introduces Incoming Senate Republican Leadership Team

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at the Senate Republican leadership press conference and introduced the incoming Senate Republican leadership team for the 120th Congress. Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “We, as you know, have had a lengthy conversation with our Republican conference on a whole range of issues and how we’re going to wrap up this legislative session – things we want to get done in the lame duck – and then focus on next year. “Obviously, the election result was not what we had hoped for, but I think it’s important that we take the lessons from that, and internalize the message the American people were sending to us, and focus on the things that really matter to them. “And we intend to do that. “Before we actually embark on the next year, though, we’ve got to finish up this year. “And this year there are a number of things on our agenda that we want to get done, including a number of judicial nominations that we want to get judges confirmed here in the Senate. “We have a number of executive branch nominations that we want to get through the process as well. “And then we’ve got to fund the government, obviously. “There are a number of other issues that we want to address, and the prospect perhaps of some really consequential legislation coming across the floor. “So, we’re going to make the most of the time that we’ve got. “Our conference is committed to being here to do whatever it takes to get as much done as we can across the finish line. “And that means extending the calendar here, the number of days we’re here, the number of hours we’re here, the number of votes we may end up taking. “But we are going to finish this legislative session strong, and then we are in the process of preparing for the 120th.”