Press Releases
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
02.27.19
Rounds, Colleagues Sound Alarm on $22 Trillion Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) and U.S. Congressman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.-05) to introduce resolutions in the Senate and House to recognize America's national debt as a threat to our national security. Earlier this month, the national debt reached $22 trillion. "Surpassing $22 trillion in debt should be a wake-up call to Washington, which for decades has failed to balance … Continue Reading
02.25.19
Rounds Supports Bill to Protect Newborns Who Survive Abortions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the dignity of all human life prior to the Senate vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Rounds is an original cosponsor of the legislation, which was introduced by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). It failed to advance in the Senate today. "In the history of the world, the true test of a society is how well we treat the most vulnerable among us," said Rounds in his speech. "A baby who surv… Continue Reading
02.25.19
Rounds Receives National Retail Federation’s “Hero of Main Street” Award for Outstanding Support of South Dakota’s Retail Industry
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after receiving the Hero of Main Street Award from the National Retail Federation (NRF). The award was presented by South Dakota Retailers Association Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. This award is given to members of Congress who publicly support policies and initiatives that support a sustained and healthy retail industry. "When our small businesses thrive, our economy soars," said Rounds. "Consumers have been fe… Continue Reading
02.21.19
Rounds Receives NFIB “Guardian of Small Business Award” for 100 Percent Pro-Small-Business Voting Record
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that he received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). The award is given to members of Congress who work to strengthen small businesses in their states. Rounds received a 100-percent, pro-small-business voting record from the NFIB during the 115th Congress (2017-2018). "South Dakota's small businesses provide good-paying jobs, play an important role in our communities and reinvest … Continue Reading
02.14.19
Rounds Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after he voted in favor of compromise legislation to fund border security measures and avoid a partial government shutdown: "Today's agreement avoids a second government shutdown and provides the American people with the certainty of a fully-functioning federal government. It also makes a much-needed down payment on the president's promise to strengthen border security. For these reasons, I voted for today's proposa… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Rounds Reintroduces IHS Assessment Legislation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Assessment of the Indian Health Service Act of 2019. He previously introduced this legislation during the 115th Congress, where it advanced out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee with bipartisan support. "Tribal members in South Dakota and across the Great Plains Region are in the midst of a health care crisis," said Rounds. "For far too long, tribal members who rely on Indian Health Service (IHS) for health care have faced un… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Rounds Joins Thune, Warner to Introduce Legislation to Address Student Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined his colleagues in introducing legislation to help Americans tackle their student loan debt. Led by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the Employer Participation in Repayment Act would allow employers to contribute up to $5,250 tax-free to their employees' student loans - providing employees with much-needed relief and employers with a unique tool to attract and retain talented employees. "With the cost of education skyrock… Continue Reading
02.12.19
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Natural Resources Management Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement on Senate passage of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act of 2019. The legislation passed 92-8: "In South Dakota, we treasure our public lands. We also work to protect the rights of private landowners and encourage conservation of our lands for future generations. This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve management of our public lands and allow greater local control of water management decisions. "I'm… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Rounds Meets with Attorney General Nominee Bill Barr
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement following his meeting with Bill Barr, President Trump's nominee to be Attorney General: "I appreciated the opportunity to meet privately with the president's nominee to be Attorney General, Bill Barr," said Rounds. "As our nation's top law enforcement officer, he is committed to enforcing the law and upholding the Constitution. We had a lengthy discussion about our right to bear arms, and I thank Mr. Barr for his c… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Rounds Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced he is a cosponsor of the Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act, reintroduced this Congress by Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). The CREATES Act would address anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name pharmaceutical and biologic companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. Rounds cosponsored this legislation in the 115th C… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Sioux Falls Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Military Academy at West Point
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Bryn Ellwein of Sioux Falls, SD, has received a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which she intends to accept. Ellwein is the daughter of Ryan and Shelby Ellwein of Sioux Falls. She currently attends Roosevelt High School, and will graduate in May 2019. "We congratulate Bryn on her offer of appointment to West Point," said Rounds. "She has worked hard to get to this point. Bryn is f… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Rounds Statement on the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the president's State of the Union Address: "Tonight, the president laid out a vision for our country that builds upon the successes of the past two years to further strengthen our economy and keep us safe. Reminding us that much more unites us than divides us as Americans, he called on us to set aside our differences and tackle the tough issues before us. I couldn't agree more. "We all want to make our cou… Continue Reading
02.05.19
Rounds: Navy Names Ship for South Dakota Capital City
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced today that Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has named the next Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Pierre (LCS 38) in honor of the capital city of South Dakota. "It's an honor to have a Navy vessel named after our state's capital city of Pierre," said Rounds. "While we are about as far away from an ocean as you could get, South Dakotans have a long history of service to the Navy. USS South Dakota (SSN 790), the Navy's newe… Continue Reading
02.02.19
Rounds Delivers Keynote Address at USS South Dakota Commissioning Ceremony
GROTON, CT - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered the keynote address at the commissioning ceremony for USS South Dakota, a next-generation, Virginia-class attack submarine designed to fulfill 21st century mission requirements. "Even though we South Dakotans live about as far away from an ocean as anyone can get, we are fiercely proud of the men and women who serve on this new submarine now and in the future, just as we are still fiercely proud of those who served on the two previo… Continue Reading
01.30.19
Box Elder Resident Offered Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Kyras Fort of Box Elder, SD, has been offered a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, which Fort intends to accept. Fort is the son of John Paul Fort and Enri Yamashita Fort. He currently attends the Frankfurt International School in Germany. Fort received a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy from Rounds, and was one of Rounds' three principal nominees. Principal nominees are guaranteed admission if th… Continue Reading
