Press Releases
Rounds Joins Bipartisan Group of Former Governors Calling for Flexibility in State Stabilization Funding
PIERRE -U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) - who all formerly worked as governors - today called on Vice President Mike Pence to work with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to issue guidance to states on how they can use funding from the CARES Act to address budget shortfalls. The CARES Act that Congress passed into law includes $150 billion in stabilization funding for state and local governments, and the Trump administratio… Continue Reading
04.07.20
Rounds, Thune Join Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling on USDA to Allocate Additional Funds for Biofuel Industry During COVID-19 Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and ten of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting additional funds be allocated to the biofuel industry through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) during the unprecedented economic circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Farm income and prices for corn and oth… Continue Reading
04.06.20
Rounds, Colleagues Urge VA to Expand Telemental Health Services for Veterans During COVID-19
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Senate Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to send a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie urging the VA to use the authority granted in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to expand telemental health services to veterans during COVID-19. A provision was included in the CARES Act that would permit the VA to form agreem… Continue Reading
04.06.20
Rounds, Colleagues Urge Administration to Protect Continuity of Food Supply by Supporting Farmers During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the administration to protect the continuity of our country's food supply and to support rural areas during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by providing needed relief to farmers. "Americans always depend on our nation's farmers to grow the food, fuel, and fiber that we all need, but that reliance becomes much more pronou… Continue Reading
04.04.20
Rounds: Gaming Facilities Impacted by the Effects of COVID-19 Should Be Eligible for Small Business Relief Program
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today urged the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department to allow gaming operations to participate in the newly-created Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP was part of the recently-passed CARES Act, which seeks to provide immediate, direct relief to all businesses and families impacted by the effects of COVID-19. Currently, the SBA is not accepting PPP applications from gaming facilities, such as tribally-owned casinos and gamin… Continue Reading
04.02.20
COVID-19 Relief Available for South Dakota Families and Businesses
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has created an online hub where South Dakotans can access information about COVID-19 relief available to them through the CARES Act, which was signed into law last week. The webpage can be found by visiting www.rounds.senate.gov/covid19. Up-to-date information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is also available on Rounds' website. "South Dakotans have many questions about the type of federal assistance they can get to make i… Continue Reading
04.01.20
Rounds Joins Thune, Johnson and More than 140 Members of Congress in Letter Urging USDA to Provide Immediate Assistance to Cattle Producers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), as well as more than 140 other members of Congress, today to send a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that he provide immediate assistance to cattle producers by using the resources provided in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief,… Continue Reading
03.27.20
Rounds USPHS Legislation Included in COVID-19 Relief Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today praised the inclusion of his legislation, The United States Public Health Service Modernization Act, into the COVID-19 relief bill. This bipartisan legislation establishes a Ready Reserve Corps within the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps to make certain vital health care jobs are adequately staffed when disasters, such as the current coronavirus crisis, strike the U.S. "The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need t… Continue Reading
03.26.20
Delegation-Supported Provisions to Help South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers Included in Latest Coronavirus Relief Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) applauded passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes provisions the delegation helped secure to support South Dakota farmers and ranchers. Specifically, the CARES Act includes $14 billion to replenish the U.S. Department of Agriculture Commodity Credit Corporation. This legislation would also provide a $9.5 billion emergency appropriation to sup… Continue Reading
03.25.20
Rounds Supports COVID-19 Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of emergency COVID-19 relief legislation. It now must be passed by the House of Representatives, before being sent to President Trump for signature. As a nation, we're all feeling the effects of this unprecedented crisis. I'm glad we were able to come together to provide immediate, direct relief to South Dakota families and businesses, while at the same time taking steps to stabilize our econom… Continue Reading
03.20.20
Delegation Applauds SBA Approval of Economic Injury Disaster Loan Funding for South Dakota
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) for granting South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's request to activate the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week in response to the governor's request, the delegation sent a letter urging SBA to activate the EIDL program for South Dakota's small businesses. … Continue Reading
03.19.20
Rounds Unveils Three-Pronged Approach to Address Cattle Market Crisis
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced a number of steps he is taking to address the ongoing cattle market crisis, which has been magnified during the recent outbreak of COVID-19 and could lead to producer bankruptcies. "In recent years, cattle producers have suffered from an undervalued product and low market prices-despite a consistent and growing demand for U.S. beef," said Rounds. "This has only intensified in recent months following a fire at a meatpacking facility, … Continue Reading
03.19.20
Delegation Urges SBA to Grant South Dakota’s Economic Loan Request
WASHINGTON--U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged the United States Small Business Administration to grant South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's request to activate the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The State of South Dakota has taken strong, pro-active steps to mitigate the effects of this pandemic," the delegation wrote. "Governor Noem declared a State of Emergency for … Continue Reading
03.18.20
Rounds Supports COVID-19 Legislation that Provides Immediate Relief for South Dakota Families
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Included in this legislation are provisions which provide tax credits for paid sick, family and medical leave as well as provisions that address insurance for individuals unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. "This bill, which was negotiated between House Democrats and the Trump administration, is far from perfect. However, as we seek to… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Rounds, 17 Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Military Families’ Second Amendment Rights
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Protect our Military Families' 2nd Amendment Rights Act. This legislation would allow military spouses to purchase handguns in the state where their husband or wife is permanently stationed for duty, or in a neighboring state if the military spouse commutes across state borders to their duty installation. "Our military personnel and their families make incredible sacrifices to keep our country safe," said Rounds. "Allowing them t… Continue Reading
03.11.20
Sioux Falls Student Receives Offer of Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that O'Gorman High School student Zachary Curd has received a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). Curd is the son of Dr. Blake and Debbie Curd of Sioux Falls, SD. He was nominated to the Air Force Academy by Rounds. "Congratulations to Zach on receiving an offer of appointment to the Air Force Academy," said Rounds. "Zach has a love of flying that will serve him well at the Air Force Academy. He… Continue Reading
03.10.20
Rounds Statement on First Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on the news that the state of South Dakota has confirmed five cases COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. One individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away, but because of underlying health conditions, the cause of death is still being determined at this time. "The state of South Dakota has been preparing to deal with a COVID-19, as has the federal government. Last week, we passed legislation … Continue Reading
03.05.20
35,000 additional H-2B Visas Available This Year
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is making available an additional 35,000 H-2B visas for seasonal guest workers to return to the United States this summer to work. They will be available in two batches: 20,000 will be available on April 1, and 15,000 will be available on May 15. Details on how employers can apply to receive these additional workers will be made available by DHS in the coming days. Those details will be posted at https://www.dhs.gov/, and we'll be sure to up… Continue Reading
03.04.20
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Access to Respirators
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to introduce legislation to help make sure manufacturers and distributors can produce respirators during health crises, such as the current COVID-19 epidemic. Respirators are masks worn over the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, including viruses and diseases that can spread through the air. "As the number of confirmed ca… Continue Reading
02.28.20
Rounds Joins Thune, Colleagues in Letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to Share Concerns with Brazilian Beef Imports
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and 13 other senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to express their concerns with the administration's decision to lift the U.S. ban on Brazilian raw beef imports. In 2017, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) blocked imports of Brazilian beef due to public health concerns, poor sanitary conditions and animal health issues. "Given that the United State… Continue Reading
