Press Releases
Rounds Statement on NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019 Being Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today made the following statement after President Trump signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 into law. "The NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation we pass each year, as it provides our military personnel with the tools they need to complete their missions and keep us safe," said Rounds.… Continue Reading
08.13.18
Senator Rounds to Host Tele-Townhall on Wednesday
PIERRE - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is inviting all South Dakotans to join him in a live, toll-free tele-townhall on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, at 7:55 p.m. CT/6:55 p.m. MT to discuss issues important to South Dakotans. During the tele-townhall, Rounds will be taking live questions from participants. "During my coffee and conversation in Sioux Falls last week, I enjoyed hearing firsthand from South Dakotans about their issues and concerns," said Rounds. "This year, the Senate's traditiona… Continue Reading
08.13.18
8 South Dakota Students Nominated by Rounds in Class of 2022 at U.S. Service Academies
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that eight South Dakota students he nominated to the U.S. Service Academies have been accepted and are currently in the Class of 2022. He also announced that his office is now accepting applications for the Class of 2023. Those applications must be submitted by Oct. 1, 2018. More information about the academy application process can be found here. The following students were nominated by Rounds and are currently in the class of 2022 at th… Continue Reading
08.09.18
Rounds, Colleagues Urge Funding of Snowpack Monitoring System to Help Avoid Future Flooding Along Missouri River
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D) led a letter urging the conferees of the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to include a provision in the final conference report that clarifies that funds under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) operation and maintenance account are available to implement a snowpack and soil moisture monitoring system. This language was included in the report accompanying the Senate-passed version of the bill at the request of Rounds. Rounds serves as Chairman … Continue Reading
08.09.18
Selection Process for United States Senate Youth Program is Underway
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) announced the annual statewide selection process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun. Two South Dakota high school juniors or seniors will join student delegates from around the country to participate in the USSYP's 57th annual Washington Week, which will take place March 2-9, 2019, in Washington, D.C. "Participating in the U.S. Senate Youth Program is a great way for students to learn firsthand abou… Continue Reading
08.06.18
Rounds Announces New Northeast Area Regional Director
PIERRE - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Jennifer Hieb has been hired to serve as his Northeast Area Regional Director. She replaces Josh Haeder, who is stepping down later this month, and is based in Rounds' Aberdeen office. "Jen has served in a variety of marketing and leadership roles throughout her career," said Rounds. "Her experience, along with her desire to serve others, will be a tremendous asset to my office and the Northeast region. I look forward to having Jen jo… Continue Reading
08.03.18
Rounds, Whitehouse, Alexander, Booker Introduce IMAGINE Act to Spur Use of Innovative Materials in Rebuilding American Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced the Innovative Materials for America's Growth and Infrastructure Newly Expanded (IMAGINE) Act, to encourage research and deployment of innovative construction materials in transportation and water infrastructure projects nationwide. Investing in these new techniques and materials would help to extend the life of critical public works that draw increasingly… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Rounds to EPA: You’ve Taken Care of Small Refineries, but What About Small Farmers?
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today at a hearing had the opportunity to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and exemptions issued for small refineries with Acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Excerpts of his remarks: Rounds on small refinery waivers: "You've taken care of the small refineries - what about the small farmers? What about the folks that are produci… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Rounds: Senate Continues to Make Progress on Being More Accountable to American Taxpayers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the Senate passed H.R. 6147, a package of four Fiscal Year 2019 appropriation measures. "The Senate has been working under 'regular order' to finalize appropriation bills, which is what I have been calling for since I took office in 2015," said Rounds. "I'm glad we are continuing to make progress by working in a transparent, bipartisan manner as we read and debate important funding bills. Getting back to regular … Continue Reading
07.31.18
Rounds, Duckworth Introduce Options Markets Stability Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the bipartisan Options Markets Stability Act. The Options Markets Stability Act would facilitate liquidity in options markets by calling on bank regulators to move toward a newer, internationally accepted risk-sensitive accounting standard. "The current bank risk exposure regulations have had the impact of directing capital away from centrally cleared options mar… Continue Reading
07.25.18
Senate Resolution Declares July 28 “National Day of the American Cowboy”
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is a cosponsor of a resolution passed by the Senate unanimously that declares July 28, 2018, the National Day of the American Cowboy. This is a tribute to the hard working men and women that helped settle the American West. The resolution honors the culture, traditions and values of the American Cowboy way of life that are still alive today. The resolution states that "the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, respect, a strong wo… Continue Reading
07.25.18
Rounds Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Kavanaugh
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on his meeting with Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: "I appreciate the opportunity to meet with Judge Kavanaugh today. We had a wide-ranging discussion regarding privacy, states' rights and regulatory overreach by the executive branch. Now more than ever, we need a strong justice who will uphold the Constitution as it was written. Judge Kavanaugh is a h… Continue Reading
07.23.18
Senate Confirms Robert Wilkie to Lead VA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today voted in favor of Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He was confirmed by the Senate 86-9. "Mr. Wilkie is well-qualified to lead the VA at a time when the agency is attempting to return to its mission of serving our nation's veterans. During his confirmation hearing, I shared with Mr. Wilkie my concerns regarding the VA MISSION Act and reiterated my inter… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Rounds, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cyber Subcommittee, Signs Onto Secure Elections Act
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today signed onto the bipartisan Secure Elections Act. This legislation would strengthen America's election cybersecurity and protect against the possibility of future foreign interference by streamlining cybersecurity information-sharing between federal intelligence entities and state election agencies and providing security clearances to state election officials. "Free and fair el… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Rounds Selected to Serve on NATO Observer Group
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that he will serve on the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group. "The United States and our NATO partners continue to face new and emerging threats from our adversaries," said Rounds. "By re-establishing the NATO Observer Group, the Senate will be able to obtain timely information on the important decisions being made and the threats we face. I look forward t… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Rounds Questions Fed Chair on Economic Growth During Banking Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today questioned Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, about the positive impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has had on our economy. The two agreed that the tax law, in addition to other policies, is having a positive effect on our economy. Rounds also expressed concern for the impact that trade instability is having on our ability to reach our full economic potential. Powe… Continue Reading
07.16.18
Rounds Statement on Trump-Putin Meeting
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, issued the following statement about President Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, earlier today. "Make no mistake: Russia is not our friend. Our poor relations are a direct result of their continued destabilizing behavior throughout the world. It is clear that Russia attempted to directly influence the 2016 election process. There is value in seeking to improve… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Delegation Urges President to Prioritize U.S. Agriculture During Trade Negotiations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today strongly urged President Trump to make U.S. agriculture exports a priority with our trading partners around the world. Recent market uncertainty has already cost South Dakota producers hundreds of millions of dollars, and the delegation hopes this letter serves as a reminder to the president that this industry cannot afford to be further entangled in global trade disputes. "We ap… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Rounds Joins Group of Senators in Introducing Resolution to Support ICE
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined a group of senators in introducing a resolution denouncing the radical calls for the dissolution of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents play a vital role in the defense of our country," said Rounds. "Not only do they work to safeguard our borders, they keep our communities safe and help rescue vulnerable children and human trafficking victims. Without the brave men and women … Continue Reading
07.10.18
Rounds Statement on Committee Confirmation of Robert Wilkie to be VA Secretary
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today voted in committee to advance the confirmation of Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The full Senate will now have the opportunity to vote on his confirmation. "After meeting with Mr. Wilkie in my office recently, as well as questioning him during his confirmation hearing in the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I voted to advance his confirmation to the Sena… Continue Reading
