Press Releases
Rounds Attends Signing of USMCA at White House
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today attended President Trump's signing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaces the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. "I had the honor to join President Trump at the White House this morning for the signing of the USMCA," said Rounds. "This new agreement will expand trade opportunities for South Dakota's farmers, ranchers and manufacturers. Mexico and Canada are two of our most valued trading partners, and signing… Continue Reading
01.28.20
Rounds, King, Harris, Pingree, Keating, Bergman Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Administration to Increase the Number of Temporary, Non-Immigrant H-2B Workers for 2020
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Reps. Andy Harris (R-M.D.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), William Keating (D-Mass.) and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf urging the administration to immediately increase the statutory cap of H-2B visas for fiscal year 2020. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Se… Continue Reading
01.24.20
President Trump Signs Rounds, Tester Memorializing Veterans Act into Law
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after legislation he introduced with Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) was signed into law by President Trump this week. The new law will establish a grant program to help honor the lives of our nation's veterans. "I thank President Trump for signing into law our bipartisan bill that establishes a grant program to honor veterans' legacies," said Rounds. "Sharing veterans' stories of service and sacrifice is one way we can encour… Continue Reading
01.24.20
Rounds Statement on Revised WOTUS Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announcement of the replacement for the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule: "The administration's Navigable Waters Protection Rule gives farmers, ranchers and landowners the clarity they need to know when the Clean Water Act applies to them and when it does not," said Rounds. "The previous administration… Continue Reading
01.23.20
Rounds Receives “A” Rating from Susan B. Anthony List for Support of Pro-Life Policies
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after receiving an "A" rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for his strong legislative record supporting pro-life measures: "From conception to natural death, life is a gift from God. I've worked with my fellow pro-life colleagues in the Senate on numerous bills to limit abortions, stop taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions and protect innocent lives. There is still more work for us to do together to change pe… Continue Reading
01.22.20
Rounds Congratulates Craig Price, Secretary of South Dakota Department of Public Safety, for Being Selected to Serve on President Trump’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today congratulates Secretary of South Dakota Department of Public Safety Craig Price, who has been selected to serve as a commissioner on the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. "I congratulate Craig for being selected to join the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice," said Rounds. "I've had the privilege of working with Craig throughout his career in law enforcement. He… Continue Reading
01.22.20
Rounds Votes in Favor of Fair, Impartial Impeachment Trial
WASHINGTON - Early this morning, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) voted in favor of the organizing resolution that will guide the first phase of the impeachment trial in the Senate. The resolution, which passed 53-47, follows the fair and impartial guidelines used during President Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999. "I voted in favor of the organizing resolution outlining the next steps in the Senate impeachment trial, which closely follows past precedents and allows for a fair, impartial proce… Continue Reading
01.16.20
Rounds, Colleagues Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined a number of his Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution designating January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. This Resolution also commemorates the Virginia Statute's for Religious Freedom's 234th anniversary, a statute that laid the foundations for the First Amendment. "Freedom to practice religion without the fear of persecution is a fundamental human right and a pillar of our form of government in the United States," Rounds said… Continue Reading
01.16.20
Rounds Votes to Pass USMCA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today voted in favor of ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "I voted in favor of the USMCA trade deal, which will expand trade opportunities for South Dakota's farmers, ranchers and manufacturers," said Rounds. "Mexico and Canada are two of our most valued trading partners. Passing the USMCA further solidifies our trade partnerships with them, and it upholds President Trump's commitment to making better, fairer trade deals for our pro… Continue Reading
01.15.20
Rounds Attends Signing of U.S.-China “Phase One” Trade Deal at the White House
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today attended the signing of "phase one" of a trade agreement between the United States and China at the White House. "The 'phase one' deal signed today is great news for South Dakota farmers, ranchers and manufacturers," said Rounds. "Under this agreement, China has agreed to purchase at least $40 billion of our agricultural products. This will provide some much-needed relief to our farmers and ranchers who have been at the tip of the spear through… Continue Reading
01.14.20
Rounds Votes to Advance U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to Senate Floor
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today voted to advance the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement to the Senate floor. The USMCA will replace the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. "I voted in our EPW Committee to bring the USMCA to the Senate floor for a vote, so we can get this important trade agreement enacted quickly," said Rounds. "For too long, South Dakota producers have been at the tip o… Continue Reading
01.08.20
Rounds: TRUST Act ‘Important Step Toward Addressing Debt Crisis’
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D) announced today that he is a cosponsor of the Time to Rescue United States' Trusts (TRUST) Act, which would create congressional committees specifically tasked to develop legislation to restore and strengthen endangered federal trust funds. Without legislative action, the government's trust funds - Highway, Medicare Hospital Insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance - will be exhausted in the next… Continue Reading
01.07.20
Rounds Statement on Iran Attack on U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on Iran's attack on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq: "Tonight, the Department of Defense confirmed that Iran launched missiles at U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. As we learn more about the events unfolding and determine an appropriate response, we remain concerned about the safety of our men and women in harm's way. The safety and security of Americans is our top… Continue Reading
12.19.19
Rounds Statement on Final Ethanol Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) final rule to establish the required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020: "President Trump has made clear that he expects the EPA to follow through on his commitment to farmers by meeting the 15 billion gallon requirement under the RFS. I heard it firsthand during multiple meetings with the president at the White House." "I underst… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Rounds Statement on House Impeachment Vote
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump: "The House Democrats have voted to impeach this president, and yet, they still have not provided the evidence to substantiate an impeachable offense. The Senate will execute its constitutional duty, bring this process to a close, and get back to doing the people's work."… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Noem, Rounds Request U.S Army Corps of Engineers Increase Missouri River Mainstem Dam Releases to Prepare for Spring Runoff
PIERRE-Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requesting a marginal increase in releases from Gavins Point Dam. This would allow additional storage in the dam system to accommodate runoff this upcoming spring. Additionally, Noem and Rounds urged USACE to take measures to improve predictions in order to prevent significant flooding during wet years and to make sure water is available during a drought. "At this tim… Continue Reading
12.17.19
NDAA Passes Senate with Rounds Support, Includes a Number of South Dakota Priorities
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. It now heads to the president's desk for signature. "Providing our troops with the tools they need to complete their missions fulfills one of our most fundamental duties: to provide for our national defense," said Rounds. "This year's NDAA continues to rebuild our milita… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Rounds Names Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank as Senate Small Business of the Week
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today named Valley Queen Cheese Factory of Milbank as the Senate Small Business Committee's "Small Business of the Week." Rounds was invited by Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to select a South Dakota small business to be highlighted by the committee. Valley Queen Cheese was founded in 1929, and remains a family-run operation. It is the largest cheese plant in our state and the largest employer in Milbank. "South Dakota is fort… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Rounds’ Cadillac Tax Repeal Legislation Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after it was announced that legislation he introduced to repeal the "Cadillac Tax" was included in the omnibus appropriations bill scheduled to be passed by Congress this week: "Healthcare costs for South Dakota families are already too high," said Rounds. "The Cadillac Tax threatened to raise healthcare premiums even higher by imposing a 40 percent tax on certain employer-sponsored health care plans. I'm plea… Continue Reading
12.16.19
Senate Passes Resolution Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
In recognition of the Battle of the Bulge beginning 75 years ago today, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution last week commemorating this anniversary. S. Con. Res 23 honors the valiant efforts of the Allied Forces in December 1944, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice in this last major German offensive in Western Europe during World War II. There were 89,000 American casualties in this 38-day battle, and 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives. The Allied victory in this battle he… Continue Reading
