Press Releases
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
07.09.18
Rounds on Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) tonight issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy as an Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court: "The president has announced his nominee, and now the Senate has a constitutional role of advice and consent. I take this responsibility very seriously. Confirming conservative, fair-minded judges who will adhere to the Constitution is one of the most important responsibi… Continue Reading
06.28.18
Rounds, Thune and Noem Express Support for New East River Veteran Cemetery
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, in a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Memorial Affairs Randy C. Reeves, expressed their support for the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs' application to establish a new veterans cemetery in Sioux Falls. "We write in support of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs' (SDDVA) application for the establishment of a new veterans cemete… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Rounds on Meeting with CFPB Director Nominee Kathy Kraninger
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today issued the following statement following his meeting with Kathy Kraninger, nominee to be director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). "A product of Dodd-Frank, the CFPB was set up by the previous administration to be an unaccountable regulatory agency with no oversight from Congress," said Rounds. "Under Acting Director Mick Mulvaney, the agency has charted a new course by rolling back har… Continue Reading
06.26.18
Rounds Statement on EPA’s RVO Proposal for 2019
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today made the following statement on the EPA's Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) proposed rule for 2019: "While I am pleased the EPA has proposed an increase in the RVO for 2019, until the agency answers how it intends to assure the 15 billion gallons in grain ethanol is met in light of reports of 'hardship' waive… Continue Reading
06.26.18
Delegation Encourages President to Quickly Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration
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, in a letter to President Trump, expressed their strong support for South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard's request for a major disaster declaration that would cover Campbell, McPherson, and Walworth counties in South Dakota. If approved, the federal disaster assistance would help communities recover from severe thunderstorms and flash flooding that occurred between May 17 and May 18, which … Continue Reading
06.25.18
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Three Appropriation Bills
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriation bills: "Today, the Senate made a step in the right direction toward getting back to 'regular order,' where we debate appropriation bills individually," said Rounds. "Responsible spending starts with a responsible appropriations process where Congress engages in thoughtful debate about … Continue Reading
