Press Releases
Rounds, Colleagues Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined a number of his Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution designating January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. This Resolution also commemorates the Virginia Statute's for Religious Freedom's 234th anniversary, a statute that laid the foundations for the First Amendment. "Freedom to practice religion without the fear of persecution is a fundamental human right and a pillar of our form of government in the United States," Rounds said… Continue Reading
01.16.20
Rounds Votes to Pass USMCA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today voted in favor of ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "I voted in favor of the USMCA trade deal, which will expand trade opportunities for South Dakota's farmers, ranchers and manufacturers," said Rounds. "Mexico and Canada are two of our most valued trading partners. Passing the USMCA further solidifies our trade partnerships with them, and it upholds President Trump's commitment to making better, fairer trade deals for our pro… Continue Reading
01.15.20
Rounds Attends Signing of U.S.-China “Phase One” Trade Deal at the White House
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today attended the signing of "phase one" of a trade agreement between the United States and China at the White House. "The 'phase one' deal signed today is great news for South Dakota farmers, ranchers and manufacturers," said Rounds. "Under this agreement, China has agreed to purchase at least $40 billion of our agricultural products. This will provide some much-needed relief to our farmers and ranchers who have been at the tip of the spear through… Continue Reading
01.14.20
Rounds Votes to Advance U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to Senate Floor
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today voted to advance the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement to the Senate floor. The USMCA will replace the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. "I voted in our EPW Committee to bring the USMCA to the Senate floor for a vote, so we can get this important trade agreement enacted quickly," said Rounds. "For too long, South Dakota producers have been at the tip o… Continue Reading
01.08.20
Rounds: TRUST Act ‘Important Step Toward Addressing Debt Crisis’
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D) announced today that he is a cosponsor of the Time to Rescue United States' Trusts (TRUST) Act, which would create congressional committees specifically tasked to develop legislation to restore and strengthen endangered federal trust funds. Without legislative action, the government's trust funds - Highway, Medicare Hospital Insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance - will be exhausted in the next… Continue Reading
01.07.20
Rounds Statement on Iran Attack on U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on Iran's attack on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq: "Tonight, the Department of Defense confirmed that Iran launched missiles at U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. As we learn more about the events unfolding and determine an appropriate response, we remain concerned about the safety of our men and women in harm's way. The safety and security of Americans is our top… Continue Reading
12.19.19
Rounds Statement on Final Ethanol Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule to establish the required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020: "President Trump has made clear that he expects the EPA to follow through on his commitment to farmers by meeting the 15 billion gallon requirement under the RFS. I heard it firsthand during multiple meetings with the president at the White House." "I underst… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Rounds Statement on House Impeachment Vote
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump: "The House Democrats have voted to impeach this president, and yet, they still have not provided the evidence to substantiate an impeachable offense. The Senate will execute its constitutional duty, bring this process to a close, and get back to doing the people's work."… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Noem, Rounds Request U.S Army Corps of Engineers Increase Missouri River Mainstem Dam Releases to Prepare for Spring Runoff
PIERRE-Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requesting a marginal increase in releases from Gavins Point Dam. This would allow additional storage in the dam system to accommodate runoff this upcoming spring. Additionally, Noem and Rounds urged USACE to take measures to improve predictions in order to prevent significant flooding during wet years and to make sure water is available during a drought. "At this tim… Continue Reading
12.17.19
NDAA Passes Senate with Rounds Support, Includes a Number of South Dakota Priorities
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. It now heads to the president's desk for signature. "Providing our troops with the tools they need to complete their missions fulfills one of our most fundamental duties: to provide for our national defense," said Rounds. "This year's NDAA continues to rebuild our milita… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Rounds Names Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank as Senate Small Business of the Week
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today named Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank as the Senate Small Business Committee's "Small Business of the Week." Rounds was invited by Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to select a South Dakota small business to be highlighted by the committee. Valley Queen Cheese was founded in 1929, and remains a family-run operation. It is the largest cheese plant in our state and the largest employer in Milbank. "South Dakota is fort… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Rounds’ Cadillac Tax Repeal Legislation Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after it was announced that legislation he introduced to repeal the "Cadillac Tax" was included in the omnibus appropriations bill scheduled to be passed by Congress this week: "Healthcare costs for South Dakota families are already too high," said Rounds. "The Cadillac Tax threatened to raise healthcare premiums even higher by imposing a 40 percent tax on certain employer-sponsored health care plans. I'm plea… Continue Reading
12.16.19
Senate Passes Resolution Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
In recognition of the Battle of the Bulge beginning 75 years ago today, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution last week commemorating this anniversary. S. Con. Res 23 honors the valiant efforts of the Allied Forces in December 1944, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice in this last major German offensive in Western Europe during World War II. There were 89,000 American casualties in this 38-day battle, and 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives. The Allied victory in this battle he… Continue Reading
12.13.19
Rounds Statement on House Judiciary Committee Impeachment Vote
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee voted to send impeachment articles to the full House floor. "This is yet another step in the Democrats' plan to impeach the president, which started over three years ago on the day he was elected. They're trying to undo the result of the 2016 election by making a mockery of the impeachment process. Based on what we've seen from the House Democrats, they have not provided the ev… Continue Reading
12.13.19
Rounds, Tester Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Grant Program Honoring Veterans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the Memorializing Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation establishing a grant program to help honor the lives of our nation's veterans. "For more than 40 years, the United States has maintained its military superiority thanks to an all-volunteer force stepping up to the plate," said Rounds. "Educating the next generation about the service and sacrifices made by our veterans is one way we can encourage young peopl… Continue Reading
12.11.19
Rounds Letter to FEMA Acting Administrator Gaynor
12.10.19
Rounds, Colleagues Urge Congressional Leadership to Fully Repeal “Cadillac Tax”
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) wrote to House and Senate leadership urging swift action of their legislation to repeal the "Cadillac Tax," a tax on high premium employer-sponsored health insurance. Legislation repealing the tax passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly earlier this year. Identical legislation, introduced by Sens. Rounds and Heinrich (S. 684), has 63 bipartisan cospons… Continue Reading
12.10.19
Rounds Cyber Consortia Provision Included in Final NDAA Package
WASHINGTON - Last night, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees released the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020. The final legislation includes a provision authored by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a university consortia to advise and assist DOD on cybersecurity. The provision will provide a single portal for DOD to acce… Continue Reading
12.10.19
Constitutional Carry States’ Rights Act Introduced in the House
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after companion legislation to his Constitutional Carry States' Rights Act was introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.): "I thank Rep. Hern for introducing our Constitutional carry legislation in the House," said Rounds. "Our bill, which I introduced in the Senate earlier this year, would close federal loopholes in the Gun-Free School Zones Act to make sure individuals who choose t… Continue Reading
12.09.19
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Affordable Housing for Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would provide affordable housing opportunities for volunteer firefighters and first responders in order to help recruit and retain more volunteers, particularly in rural and under-served communities. The Volunteer First Responder Housing Act would expand eligibility for qualified volunteer first resp… Continue Reading
