Press Releases
Rounds Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after he voted in favor of compromise legislation to fund border security measures and avoid a partial government shutdown: "Today's agreement avoids a second government shutdown and provides the American people with the certainty of a fully-functioning federal government. It also makes a much-needed down payment on the president's promise to strengthen border security. For these reasons, I voted for today's proposa… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Rounds Reintroduces IHS Assessment Legislation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Assessment of the Indian Health Service Act of 2019. He previously introduced this legislation during the 115th Congress, where it advanced out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee with bipartisan support. "Tribal members in South Dakota and across the Great Plains Region are in the midst of a health care crisis," said Rounds. "For far too long, tribal members who rely on Indian Health Service (IHS) for health care have faced un… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Rounds Joins Thune, Warner to Introduce Legislation to Address Student Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined his colleagues in introducing legislation to help Americans tackle their student loan debt. Led by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the Employer Participation in Repayment Act would allow employers to contribute up to $5,250 tax-free to their employees' student loans - providing employees with much-needed relief and employers with a unique tool to attract and retain talented employees. "With the cost of education skyrock… Continue Reading
02.12.19
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Natural Resources Management Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on Senate passage of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act of 2019. The legislation passed 92-8: "In South Dakota, we treasure our public lands. We also work to protect the rights of private landowners and encourage conservation of our lands for future generations. This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve management of our public lands and allow greater local control of water management decisions. "I'm… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Rounds Meets with Attorney General Nominee Bill Barr
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement following his meeting with Bill Barr, President Trump's nominee to be Attorney General: "I appreciated the opportunity to meet privately with the president's nominee to be Attorney General, Bill Barr," said Rounds. "As our nation's top law enforcement officer, he is committed to enforcing the law and upholding the Constitution. We had a lengthy discussion about our right to bear arms, and I thank Mr. Barr for his c… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Rounds Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced he is a cosponsor of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act, reintroduced this Congress by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). The CREATES Act would address anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. Rounds cosponsored this legislation in the 115th C… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Sioux Falls Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Military Academy at West Point
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Bryn Ellwein of Sioux Falls, SD, has received a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which she intends to accept. Ellwein is the daughter of Ryan and Shelby Ellwein of Sioux Falls. She currently attends Roosevelt High School, and will graduate in May 2019. "We congratulate Bryn on her offer of appointment to West Point," said Rounds. "She has worked hard to get to this point. Bryn is f… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Rounds Statement on the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the president's State of the Union Address: "Tonight, the president laid out a vision for our country that builds upon the successes of the past two years to further strengthen our economy and keep us safe. Reminding us that much more unites us than divides us as Americans, he called on us to set aside our differences and tackle the tough issues before us. I couldn't agree more. "We all want to make our cou… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Rounds: Navy Names Ship for South Dakota Capital City
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced today that Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has named the next Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Pierre (LCS 38) in honor of the capital city of South Dakota. "It's an honor to have a Navy vessel named after our state's capital city of Pierre," said Rounds. "While we are about as far away from an ocean as you could get, South Dakotans have a long history of service to the Navy. USS South Dakota (SSN 790), the Navy's newe… Continue Reading
02.02.19
Rounds Delivers Keynote Address at USS South Dakota Commissioning Ceremony
GROTON, CT - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered the keynote address at the commissioning ceremony for USS South Dakota, a next-generation, Virginia-class attack submarine designed to fulfill 21st century mission requirements. "Even though we South Dakotans live about as far away from an ocean as anyone can get, we are fiercely proud of the men and women who serve on this new submarine now and in the future, just as we are still fiercely proud of those who served on the two previo… Continue Reading
01.30.19
Box Elder Resident Offered Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Kyras Fort of Box Elder, SD, has been offered a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, which Fort intends to accept. Fort is the son of John Paul Fort and Enri Yamashita Fort. He currently attends the Frankfurt International School in Germany. Fort received a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy from Rounds, and was one of Rounds' three principal nominees. Principal nominees are guaranteed admission if th… Continue Reading
01.30.19
Delegation Introduces Legislation to Allow Tribal Grant Schools to Devote Additional Resources to Improving Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today introduced Senate and House companion bills that would allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs. This change would free up resources to improve recruiting and retention efforts for professional educators in tribal communities by allowing schools to spend less on health insurance… Continue Reading
01.28.19
Rounds to Chair Senate EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight in 116th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced that he will serve as chairman of the Senate EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight in the 116th Congress. He previously chaired this committee in the 114th and 115th Congresses. "It's an honor to continue working as chairman of this important subcommittee," said Rounds. "The Senate EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory… Continue Reading
01.28.19
Rounds Cosponsors Thune Bill to Fully Repeal Death Tax
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced he cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act, reintroduced by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). Rounds cosponsored this legislation during the 114th and 115th Congresses. "When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, it included measures to temporarily double the exemption rate of the death tax," said Rounds. "However, permanent repeal is necessary to make certain that family farms and ranches will be able to be passed down for generations … Continue Reading
01.25.19
Rounds Supports Deal to end 35-Day Government Shutdown
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding the agreement to reopen government through February, 15, 2019: "I've said all along that nobody wins in a shutdown. I'm glad a deal has been reached on a three-week Continuing Resolution so hardworking federal employees can get paid and important federal services can resume. Congress and the president must now work diligently on a long-term appropriations package and strengthening border security. "The sensele… Continue Reading
01.24.19
Rounds Votes to End Shutdown
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after he voted in favor of a proposal that would end the partial government shutdown and strengthen border security: "Nobody wins in a government shutdown. South Dakota families are suffering and the economy is hurting. I voted today in support of a proposal that would end the shutdown, enhance border security and address the growing humanitarian crisis at the border. This compromise proposal was supported by the Whi… Continue Reading
01.17.19
Rounds to Chair Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee in 116th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today announced that he will serve as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity in the 116th Congress. He also chaired the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity during the 115th Congress. This subcommittee was first established by the late SASC Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2017, and continues to be supported by current SASC Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) "It is a privilege to have … Continue Reading
01.17.19
Rounds Accepting Summer 2019 Internship Applications
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he is currently accepting internship applications for summer 2019. The deadline to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices is Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. College credit is available. Duties in the Washington, D.C., office may include tracking legislation, researching bills, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls… Continue Reading
01.16.19
Rounds to Wheeler: Finalizing Year-Round Sales of E-15 Before Summer Driving Season Crucial to South Dakota Corn Producers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today questioned Andrew Wheeler, the president's nominee to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during Wheeler's confirmation hearing. "I appreciated the opportunity to reiterate the urgent need for year-round sales of E-15 to Mr. Wheeler during his confirmation hearing. Allowing for year-round sales of E-15 would be a huge win for corn and corn ethano… Continue Reading
01.11.19
Delegation Reintroduces Bill to Transfer Federal Land to Custer County, South Dakota
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today reintroduced Senate and House companion versions of the Custer County Airport Conveyance Act, legislation that would transfer approximately 66 acres of Black Hills National Forest System land to Custer County, South Dakota. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has agreed to sell this land to the Custer County Airport, giving it full ownership of all acres the airport occupies. A portion of t… Continue Reading
