Press Releases
Senate Passes NDAA, Including Rounds’ South Dakota Priorities
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and ranking Republican member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, today issued the following statement on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. It now heads to the president's desk for signature. "This year's NDAA includes many wins for South Dakota - including victories for Ellsworth Air Force Base, Dakota State University and Raven Aerostar," said… Continue Reading
12.09.21
Rounds Announces Nominations for U.S. Service Academies for 2022-2023 School Year
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated three students for appointments to the nation's service academies. Rounds nominated Luke Jegeris of Rapid City as his principal nominee to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Aiden Kasten of Brandon as his principal nominee to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis; and John Costello of Sioux Falls as his principal nominee to the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. "It's a privilege to nominate our nati… Continue Reading
12.07.21
Rounds Submits Comment to Protect Integrity of Meat and Poultry Product Labeling Standards
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) submitted a comment to the proposed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) rulemaking that could allow terms such as "meat", "steak" or "poultry" to be used on foods that are artificially produced. Rounds argues allowing these terms to be used on lab grown food products is confusing and misleading to consumers, and puts ranchers and farmers' reputations and livelihoods at risk. In his comment, Rounds urged the … Continue Reading
12.04.21
Rounds Questions VA Secretary McDonough on Implementation of MISSION Act
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) released the following statement after a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing on Wednesday where he questioned VA Secretary Denis McDonough on claims the VA's Care In The Community administrators are purposely limiting a Veteran's ability to seek care from a local healthcare provider. "The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is changing its existing referral process by implementing the Referral Coordination Initiative (RCI). According to t… Continue Reading
11.05.21
Remembering Jean Rounds
Jean Rounds, 65, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 2, at her home in Ft. Pierre, surrounded by those she loved. A visitation will be held on Friday, November 5th from 5:00-7:00pm at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with a 6:00pm Prayer Service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, November 6th at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with private family burial to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Pierre. The family will be hosting a luncheon at Dr… Continue Reading
11.02.21
Statement on the Passing of Jean Rounds
FT. PIERRE - Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D) released the following statement remembering his wife Jean who passed away this morning after battling sarcoma cancer: "The love of my life is with the Lord. No more treatments. No more pain. Just peace. South Dakota knew her as First Lady. We knew her as wife, daughter, mom and grandma. She was everything to us. The prayers and support we received throughout this battle were powerful and made a difference. We ask for your continued prayer as we remember… Continue Reading
11.01.21
Rounds Nominates the Lee Family of Colman for Angels in Adoption Award
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that he has nominated Sandra and Chad Lee of Colman for the 2021 Angels in Adoption Award, presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCAI). Sandra and Chad, along with their children Adam and Amanda, adopted Daniela, Christopher and Mikano from Haiti in 2010. "Every year, I have the great honor of recognizing a South Dakota family who has made a life changing impact on the lives of children," said Rounds. "Sandra, Chad, Adam and Am… Continue Reading
10.28.21
Rounds Seeking Spring 2022 Internship Applications
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is currently accepting applications from college students to serve as interns during the spring semester. Positions are available in his Washington D.C. office and his state offices in Aberdeen, Rapid City, Pierre and Sioux Falls. Spring semester internships typically run from January-May, but dates can be tailored to specific schedules. "Our internship program is an incredible opportunity for students to experience a deeper understanding of the political p… Continue Reading
10.22.21
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Block Democrats’ IRS Snooping Proposal
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Banking Committee, Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and colleagues introduced the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from implementing Democrats' plan to give the agency access to transaction information of virtually every American. "I have heard from more than 5,000 South Dakotans who are opposed to the proposed IRS expansion and intrusive authority to monitor everyday Americans' bank ac… Continue Reading
10.22.21
Rounds, Heinrich Introduce Indian Buffalo Management Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act, legislation to create a permanent buffalo program at the U.S. Department of the Interior and help promote and develop tribal capacity to manage buffalo. "The American buffalo is a treasured animal and resource for Native American communities across the United States," said Rounds. "The Indian Buffalo Management… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Rounds Opposes Debt Limit Increase
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after voting against increasing the debt limit: "The Democrats want to increase spending by $3.5 trillion," said Rounds. "This cannot be sustained. I joined all of my Republican colleagues in voting no to increase the debt limit. I voted to end debate after requiring Democrats to limit their debt ceiling increase to a specific dollar amount without the support of a single Republican senator. This provides a short-t… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Designating October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gary Peters (D-Mich.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and others introduced a bipartisan resolution designating October 2021 as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The resolution recognizes the grave threat cyber-attacks, including ransomware attacks, pose to our national security and highlights simple steps individuals … Continue Reading
10.06.21
Rounds on Senate Floor: President Biden owns the Afghanistan debacle and history will not judge him kindly
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate today regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. In his remarks, Rounds highlighted a South Dakota veteran from Belle Fourche, who reached out to Rounds' staff in hopes of evacuating her Afghan interpreter. Rounds also spoke in detail about President Biden's decision to reject the professional advice of his military advisors to complete a conditions-based withdrawal rather than a date certai… Continue Reading
09.29.21
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch and others introduced the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act, legislation to address the outstanding issues related to the administration's rushed and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. "The refusal to listen to commanders on the ground, failure to provide sufficient resources to execute visa processin… Continue Reading
09.22.21
Rounds, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Tribal Self-Governance for Federal Food Assistance Programs
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow tribes in South Dakota and across the country to have greater control over how federal hunger programs are administered. The SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act would give tribal governments the ability to administer the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as SNAP) through self-governance contracts.… Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds, Crapo, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Taxpayer Rights and Privacy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate and U.S. House of Representatives colleagues to introduce the Tax Gap Reform and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enforcement Act. "I have heard from thousands of South Dakotans concerned about the proposed expansion of the IRS and the impacts it has on Americans' financial privacy-I share their concerns," said Rounds. "Rather than seeking massive funding increases and … Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds Announces $11.2 Million Grant Awarded to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for DoD Cold Weather Research
WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been awarded a $11.2 million grant to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). This new project called "Materials and Manufacturing for Cold Regions" will be conducted over a five-year time span, with funding going to faculty and student research at the School of Mines from multipl… Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds Encourages High School Seniors to Submit Applications for Nomination to U.S. Service Academies
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that all nomination applications to our nation's service academies for the fall 2022 semester are due by October 1, 2021. "Each year, I am honored to nominate our nation's future military leaders to U.S. service academies," said Rounds. "By attending an academy, not only will students have the opportunity to serve our nation and help lead the best military in the world, but they will receive an excellent education at a top-notch institution. I … Continue Reading
09.14.21
Rounds Presses Secretary of State on Lack of Strategy in Afghanistan Withdrawal Decision, Pushes for Plan Moving Forward
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, pressed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the lack of strategy in the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan. When pressed by Senator Rounds, Secretary Blinken failed to provide insight into the United States' strategy to combat adversaries and uphold American interests abroad. Rounds also requested a classified briefing with the Secretary of State to gain a better understanding … Continue Reading
09.14.21
ICYMI: Rounds on Fox News: President Biden Made a Very Serious Mistake That Cost American Lives
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on Fox News' America's Newsroom this morning to discuss the upcoming Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing with Secretary of State Blinken on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hearing begins this morning at 10 AM ET/ 9 AM CT/ 8 AM MT. Excerpts from Senator Rounds' interview below: PERINO: What have you not heard the administration answer so far t… Continue Reading
