Press Releases
Rounds’ IHS Assessment Legislation Passes Out of Committee, Heads to Full Senate Floor
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that his legislation, S. 465, the Independent Outside Audit of the Indian Health Service Act, passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee today with broad bipartisan support. "South Dakota's tribal members have been in the midst of a government-induced health care crisis for decades due to poor leadership and mismanagement at the Indian Health Service (IHS)," said Rounds. "Tribal members are suffering and even dying due to inadequate… Continue Reading
09.26.18
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at Cyber Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today delivered the opening statement at a joint Cybersecurity and Personnel Subcommittee hearing to review the cyber operational readiness of the Department of Defense (DoD). Rounds remarks, as prepared for delivery: The Cybersecurity and Personnel Subcommittees meet this afternoon to receive testimony on the cyber operational readiness of the Departmen… Continue Reading
09.18.18
Rounds Accepting Spring 2019 Internship Applications
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he is currently accepting internship applications for spring 2019. The deadline to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices is Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. College credit is available. Duties in the Washington, D.C., office may include tracking legislation, researching bills, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls… Continue Reading
09.17.18
Rounds, Hirono Introduce Bill to Provide Transparency to Veterans Considering Enrolling in School
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today introduced the GI Bill Comparison Tool Improvement Act. This bill would increase transparency for veterans when choosing where to enroll in school by adding a metric to the GI Bill Comparison Tool identifying which educational institutions allow veterans to stay enrolled in classes pending receipt of GI Bill funds. "We want all veterans to have the tools necessary to … Continue Reading
09.17.18
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Comprehensive Legislation to Address Opioid Epidemic
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Opioid Crisis Response Act, a comprehensive bill to address the growing opioid epidemic in the United States: "The legislation we passed today takes an important step toward ending the heartbreaking issue of opioid addiction," said Rounds. "Opioid addiction does not discriminate-it can affect men and women of all ages and of all races, in any town in the United States, including in… Continue Reading
09.12.18
Rounds Statement on Executive Order to Protect Election Security
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today issued the following statement on the Executive Order President Trump signed to impose sanctions on foreign countries or people who interfere in U.S. elections: "Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of our republic. Today's executive order draws a clear line in the sand and puts our adversaries on notice that we will not tolerate any meddling in our election process. All sa… Continue Reading
09.10.18
Rounds Nominates the Roth Family of Summerset for Angels in Adoption Award
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated Wes and Kimberly Roth of Summerset for this year's Angels in Adoption Award, presented by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCAI), of which Rounds is a member. Wes and Kimberly have two adopted children, Kaleb and Elsie. "I'm honored to nominate Wes and Kimberly Roth to be this year's Angels in Adoption," said Rounds. "Wes and Kimberly have not only created a loving home for Kaleb and Elsie, but they give gene… Continue Reading
08.29.18
Rounds Statement on Decision to Block Proposed Tariffs on Newsprint
PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) stopped the proposed tariffs on Canadian newsprint. Earlier this year, Rounds joined Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) in a letter to the ITC urging the organization to oppose these tariffs. "We support the ITC's decision to block tariffs on newsprint imported from Canada, which many of South Dakota's local newspapers rely on to print their publ… Continue Reading
08.27.18
Rounds Statement on Proposed Trade Agreement with Mexico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the administration's announcement that the U.S. has reached a two-year trade agreement with Mexico. "As South Dakota's top two export markets, maintaining strong trade relationships with Mexico and Canada is vitally important. Today's announcement that a two-year trade deal has been reached with Mexico is a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go to provide long-term trade stability fo… Continue Reading
08.25.18
Rounds Statement on the Passing of John McCain
FORT PIERRE-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the passing of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.): "John McCain was a true American hero who spent his life serving our country," said Rounds. "Our men and women in uniform had no better ally than John McCain, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside him on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He leaves behind a legacy of leadership we can all admire. J… Continue Reading
08.23.18
Rounds Statement on HQLA Interim Final Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today issued the following statement after the announcement of the interim final rule regarding the treatment of certain municipal securities as high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: "The ability to access capital is critically important for communities across South Dakota … Continue Reading
08.22.18
Rounds Touts Jon Kobes’ Sound Counsel, Wide Range of Experience During Confirmation Hearing to be Circuit Judge on the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced Jonathan A. Kobes at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kobes, of Sioux Falls, serves on Rounds' staff as general counsel. If confirmed, he will replace Judge Roger Wollman as a Circuit Judge on the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. "It is through his experience and our interactions working together that I am confident he possesses the essential qualities needed to excel as a federal judge," said R… Continue Reading
08.21.18
Rounds Meets with EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to discuss a number of issues important to South Dakotans, including year-round sales of E15, small refinery waivers and the proposed rewrite of the Clean Power Plan. "I thank Acting Administrator Wheeler … Continue Reading
08.21.18
Rounds Statement on EPA’s Proposed Affordable Clean Energy Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. The ACE rule, if adopted, would replace the previous administration's Clean Power Plan (CPP) rule. "The previous administration's costly and burdensome Clean Powe… Continue Reading
08.13.18
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
