WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today announced the Senate Republican Conference committee assignments for the 119th Congress. The assignments have been ratified by the Senate Republican Conference and are expected to be ratified by the full Senate early next Congress. Agriculture John Boozman, Arkansas Mitch McConnell, Kentucky John Hoeven, North Dakota Joni Ernst, Iowa Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Roge  more