Press Releases
Rounds, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Family Leave for DOD Employees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve family and medical leave for Department of Defense (DoD) employees by simplifying and expanding the agency's leave bank. Currently, DoD allows individual civilian employees to donate earned annual leave to specific individual colleagues experiencing a serious family or medical situation requiring additional leave. But the current informal process of identifying and matching up … Continue Reading
04.10.19
Rounds, Shaheen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Assist Veterans & Service Members Exposed to PFAS Contaminants
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) today reintroduced the PFAS Registry Act, legislation that would create a national database for service members and veterans experiencing health problems possibly due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). "While the military works to clean up PFAS contamination on bases around the country, it's important that veterans, service members and their families have access to the most up-to-date infor… Continue Reading
04.09.19
Rounds Meets with David Bernhardt, President’s Nominee to be Interior Secretary
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today met with David Bernhardt, President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior. Bernhardt has been serving as Acting Secretary of the Department of the Interior since January 2019. He was confirmed by the Senate to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior in 2017. "I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Acting Secretary Bernhardt prior to the Senate vote on his confirmation to be Secretary of the Interio… Continue Reading
04.04.19
Rounds, Lankford Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Medical Providers from Performing Dismemberment Abortions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) today introduced the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2019. This legislation would prohibit physicians from performing dismemberment abortions. It would impose a criminal fine, up to two years in prison, or both for individuals who perform this type of abortion. "Dismemberment abortions are among the most brutal methods of abortion, and they account for roughly 90 percent of second trimester abortions," said Rounds. "Un… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Rounds, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Protect Tribal Veterans' Health Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Tribal Veterans Health Care Enhancement Act, legislation that would improve tribal veterans' access to health care. The bill, which was first introduced in the 114th Congress and again in the 115th Congress, would allow the Indian Health Service (IHS) to cover copay costs for tribal veterans who are referred by IHS to the Veterans Health Administration (VA) for services that are unavailable at IHS facilit… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Rounds Cosponsors Bill to Block Illegal Aliens with Criminal Gang Ties from Entering the United States
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) cosponsored Singh's Law, legislation that would bar aliens associated with a criminal gang and convicted of a crime from entering the United States. The legislation was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). "Foreign criminals and known gang members who pose a threat to South Dakota families should not be allowed into the United St… Continue Reading
04.02.19
Rounds Accepting Fall 2019 Internship Applications
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he is currently accepting internship applications for fall 2019. The deadline to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices is April 30, 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, sorting… Continue Reading
04.02.19
Sioux Falls Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced Aiden Diedrich, a student at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, has received a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy which he has accepted. Diedrich is the son of Cory and Janey Diedrich of Sioux Falls. "I was proud to nominate Aiden to the Air Force Academy and I congratulate him on his offer of appointment," said Rounds. "Aiden is an Eagle Scout, a National Honor Society member, a pianist and a state c… Continue Reading
03.27.19
Ellsworth Air Force Base to Welcome B-21 Training and Operational Squadron to Its Fleet
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), and Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today issued the following statements after the U.S. Air Force announced that Ellsworth Air Force Base has officially been selected to receive the new B-21 training and operational squadron, which means it will be the first of three bases nationwide to host the B-21 bomber in its fleet. Infrastructure spending will begin in fiscal year 2021. "Today's announceme… Continue Reading
03.27.19
Rounds, Manchin Introduce Bill to Protect Rural Veterans’ Access to Healthcare
WASHINGTON-- U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today introduced the Elimination of the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission of 2019 Act. If passed, this bill will eliminate the commission that is tasked with finding facilities that should be consolidated or realigned. This bill is necessary because rural healthcare is essential to many South Dakotans and the AIR Commission threatens the longevity of ru… Continue Reading
03.20.19
Rounds Receives 100 Percent Rating for Pro-Life, Pro-Family Voting Record
PIERRE -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he received the Family Research Council (FRC) Action's 'True Blue' award for his 100 percent rating to protect life and defend family values in the second session of the 115th Congress. "We thank Sen. Rounds for voting to defend and advance faith, family, and freedom," said Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins. "As a 'True Blue Member' he voted 100 percent on FRC Action's Scorecard including to protect unborn babies, d… Continue Reading
03.18.19
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Hearing Protection Act
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), joined Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and 10 other senators to introduce the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) in the Senate. "Our commonsense legislation would help protect hearing by eliminating red tape for those seeking to own a firearm suppressor," said Rounds. "Suppressors have nothing to do with whether guns are 'silent' or 'dangerous' - they are simply a tool to help protect the hearing of sportsmen." On average, suppressors diminish the noise of a gu… Continue Reading
03.13.19
Rounds’ Statement on Neil Fulton Being Named Dean of USD School of Law
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the University of South Dakota (USD) announced Neil Fulton was selected as dean of the USD School of Law. "I congratulate Neil on being named dean of the USD School of Law," said Rounds. "I worked closely with Neil when he served as my chief of staff in the governor's office, and I always valued his professionalism, strong work ethic and leadership. Since 2010, he has served as the Federal Public Defender fo… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Rounds Statement on EPA’s Proposed Rule on E-15 Waiver
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rule to allow year-round sales of E-15: "I thank Administrator Wheeler and President Trump for moving forward with their pledge to allow year-round sales of E-15 ahead of this year's summer driving season. This could result in approximately 700 million gallons of additional ethanol sold ann… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Sioux Falls Student Receives Offer of Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Jack Elliott, a student at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, has received a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, which he intends to accept. Elliott is the son of Keith and Kim Elliott of Sioux Falls. "I congratulate Jack on his offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy," said Rounds. "Jack is a skilled athlete, winning multiple State AA Boys Cross Country titles. He'll be a member of the Track a… Continue Reading
03.07.19
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Veterans’ Economic Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) to introduce the bipartisan Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act (S. 679). This legislation would protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship. "The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America make incredible sacrifices to protect and de… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Rounds, Heinrich Lead Effort to Repeal Cadillac Tax on Middle-Class Health Benefits
WASHINGTON-U.S Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) known as the "Cadillac Tax," which taxes high-cost health insurance plans and impacts middle-class health benefits. "The bill we introduced today is a step toward repealing another negative provision of the Affordable Care Act: the Cadillac Tax," said Rounds. "If implemented, the Cadillac Tax would impose a 40 percent tax on cer… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Rounds, Harris, Tillis, Pingree Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Administration Increase the Number of Temporary, Non-Immigrant H-2B Workers for 2019
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and U.S. Reps. Andy Harris (R-M.D.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging the administration to immediately increase the statutory cap of H-2B visas for fiscal year 2019 as authorized by the recent appropriations package (Pub. L. 116-6). The appropriations package signed into law last month authorizes the Secretary of the … Continue Reading
02.28.19
Rounds Statement on Senate Confirmation of Andrew Wheeler to be EPA Administrator
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today made the following statement after Andrew Wheeler was confirmed by the Senate to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "I congratulate Administrator Wheeler on his confirmation," said Rounds. "I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Wheeler during his c… Continue Reading
02.27.19
Bill to Transfer Federal Land to Custer County, South Dakota, Heads to the President
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 issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill (S. 47) that included their 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, givi… Continue Reading
