Press Releases
Rounds Secures Five Key Committee Memberships for 117th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced his membership on five key committees in the 117th Congress: Armed Services Foreign Relations Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Veterans' Affairs Indian Affairs Rounds Statement: "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on five critical committees - each with opportunities to help shape our work on behalf of South Dakotans." "The Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations are two of th… Continue Reading
02.03.21
Rounds Discusses MCOOL and Ethanol with Ag Secretary Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement today following a discussion with Tom Vilsack, who President Biden recently nominated to be Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack previously served as Governor of Iowa and Secretary of Agriculture under President Barack Obama. "South Dakota's farm and ranch families are among the best producers in the world," said Rounds. "They are great stewards of the land and need to be recognized for their efforts in feeding a growing… Continue Reading
02.01.21
Rounds Statement on Meeting with President Biden to Discuss COVID-19 Relief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding a meeting he and nine of his Republican colleagues participated in with President Biden to discuss COVID-19 relief. "South Dakotans sent me to Washington to stand up for our principles and get results. It's important to be in these discussions to advocate for our state and work to keep out the bad policies that will hurt our families and businesses. As the saying goes - 'if you're not at the table, you… Continue Reading
01.31.21
Rounds, King Reintroduce Legislation Allowing Local Meat and Poultry Products to be Sold Across State Lines
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act. The bipartisan bill would allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. Rounds and King introduced this legislation in the 115th and 116th sessions of Congress. "South Dakota farmers and ranchers produce some of the highest-quality meat in the nation," said Rounds. "However, cur… Continue Reading
01.28.21
Rounds Issues Statement on President Biden’s Executive Actions Expanding Obamacare and Attacking Life
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement today on executive actions taken by President Joe Biden to expand Obamacare and allow taxpayer dollars to be spent to fund overseas abortions: "We've spent the last four years fighting to roll back government overreach in private healthcare and protect the sanctity of human life. In the early days of the Biden presidency, we are watching some of our progress be destroyed. "Obamacare led to higher premiums, fewer opti… Continue Reading
01.28.21
Rounds: WOTUS was Illegal Power Grab; New Rule Must be Upheld
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and a number of their colleagues to introduce a resolution that expresses the need for the U.S. Senate to stand with workers, farmers, ranchers, landowners, manufacturers and businesses by upholding the Trump administration's Navigable Waters Protection rule, which replaced the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. "We must uphold the prev… Continue Reading
01.28.21
Rounds, Manchin, Smith, Hassan, King, Shaheen Call on FCC to Prioritize Small Rural Providers for Covid-19 Telehealth Program
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assure small rural providers receive their fair share of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding authorized in the recent year-end stimulus package. The senators said in part, "All across the country our healthcare providers, first responders, and Americans of all walks of li… Continue Reading
01.27.21
Rounds Receives Assurances that Incoming VA Secretary Will Work to Keep Hot Springs VA Open, Modernize Facility
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today questioned Denis McDonough, nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the future of the VA facility in Hot Springs, SD. Rounds asked: "The Hot Springs VA facility in Hot Springs, South Dakota, is a critical part of the department's Black Hill Health Care System… I'd like your commitment, if confirmed, to work on moving the Hot Springs facility and literally … Continue Reading
01.26.21
Rounds: Impeachment Trial of Former President is Unconstitutional
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined 44 of his Senate colleagues in declaring the impeachment trial of Donald Trump unconstitutional on the grounds that he is a private citizen no longer in office. "The Constitution is clear that holding an impeachment trial of a former president, former official, or - more specifically - a private citizen, is unconstitutional and that the Senate should not go down this path. Donald Trump is no longer in office and is now a private citizen.… Continue Reading
01.26.21
Rounds Supports Legislation to Establish Election Integrity Commission
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to introduce legislation establishing the 2020 Bipartisan Advisory Committee to examine the integrity of the November election and make recommendations to State legislatures to improve the security, integrity and administration of federal elections. "Our system of government is based on free and fair elections, run by individual states," said Rounds. "I remain confident in the security of South Dakota's election sy… Continue Reading
01.22.21
Rounds Votes to Confirm General Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted to confirm General Lloyd Austin to be the Secretary of Defense. Rounds also supported a waiver for Mr. Austin, which is necessary because he is not yet seven years removed from military service. Austin was confirmed by a vote of 93-2. "Mr. Austin will make an excellent Secretary of Defense," said Rounds. "He has earned praise from his colleagues throughout his military career, from the ti… Continue Reading
01.20.21
Rounds Statement on Inauguration of President Biden
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement on the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris: "The peaceful transfer of power that the American people witnessed today on the steps of the U.S. Capitol is fundamental to our republic and the future of our great nation. I wish President Biden and Vice President Harris the best as they assume the tremendous responsibility entrusted to them. "I know we will not agree on every issue, and I'm rea… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Rounds, Colleagues: Stop Illegal PPP Loans to Planned Parenthood
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and a group of senators in a letter urging U.S. Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to prevent Planned Parenthood affiliates from receiving illegal loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as they did last year. "Planned Parenthood affiliates are well aware that they are ineligible to receive PPP loans, on the basis of SBA's letters and the frank admission of their political-action committee," wrote… Continue Reading
01.07.21
Rounds Statement Following the Formal Count of the Electoral College Votes by Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement on the formal count of the Electoral College votes by Congress: "Going into the joint session, I said I would keep an open mind and listen to the objections and evidence presented. Despite the unacceptable attack on the U.S. Capitol, we pressed forward and I kept my promise. "I take very seriously Congress' role in certifying the Electoral College, as outlined in the Constitution and the Electoral Count Act. After much cons… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Rounds: Violence and Destruction are Never the Answer
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement on today's attack on the U.S. Capitol: "As a nation, we should stand together in opposition to the violent acts and lawlessness that occurred at the U.S. Capitol today. Violence and destruction are never the answer. We are better than this, and it's past time for cooler heads to prevail. I continue to pray for our great country." ###… Continue Reading
01.05.21
Rounds Statement on the Formal Count of the Electoral College Votes by Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement on tomorrow's formal count of the Electoral College votes by Congress: "Tomorrow's vote will be one of the most consequential votes I'll likely take as a U.S. Senator. "If you've noticed, I have not joined the chorus of those for or against an objection. Today, those objections do not exist, they have not been shared, and there's literally nothing to consider until we have a chance to hear the arguments for and against. Th… Continue Reading
01.03.21
Rounds Takes Oath of Office for Second Term in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after taking the oath of office for his second term serving South Dakotans in the United States Senate: "Continuing to work on behalf of South Dakotans in the United States Senate is a tremendous privilege and honor. I'm also incredibly thankful Jean was able to join me for the ceremony." "I look forward to getting to work on the important issues that will define our future." Rounds was sworn into office by Vice President … Continue Reading
12.17.20
Rounds’ Legislation to End Veteran Homelessness Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, made the following statement after legislation he introduced to end veteran homelessness was included in a veterans package that passed the House of Representatives yesterday. It now heads to the president's desk for signature: "No veteran should be without a place to call home," said Rounds. "While there has been progress made over the past decade at reducing the number of veterans experiencing ho… Continue Reading
12.11.20
Annual Defense Bill Headed to President’s Desk, Includes a Number of South Dakota Priorities
WASHINGTON- Today, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which includes a number of South Dakota priorities. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the SASC Cybersecurity Subcommittee, authored and championed a number of these provisions. "Senator Rounds has been a champion for the National Defense Authorization Act and all that it stands for - a strong national defense and robust… Continue Reading
12.03.20
Rounds Statement on Inclusion of National Cyber Director in NDAA Conference Report
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the inclusion of a National Cyber Director provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021: "As technology advances, so do cyber threats to our nation," said Rounds. "The creation of a National Cyber Director position in this year's NDAA was the result of years of hard work. The prov… Continue Reading
