Press Releases
Rounds Statement on Welcome Delay of ELD Rule for Live-Load Truckers in Omnibus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the inclusion of language to exempt live-load truckers from ELD rules for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 in the omnibus: "I'm pleased that a delay to the ELD rule for live-load truckers was included in the omnibus spending bill currently being considered by the Senate," said Rounds. "The ELD rule could have a significant impact on not only live-load truckers but the ag economy as a whole. I've been in cont… Continue Reading
03.21.18
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Bill to Provide Justice to Victims of Sex Trafficking
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, legislation that would allow victims of sex trafficking to seek justice against websites such as Backpage.com that knowingly facilitate the crimes against them. Rounds is a cosponsor of this legislation. "Websites that make a profit by providing a platform for sex traffickers must be held liable," said Rounds. "The legislati… Continue Reading
03.21.18
Ellsworth Air Force Base Leaders Provide Update to Delegation
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 received an update from Colonel John Edwards and Chief Master Sergeant Adam Vizi of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base. "Ellsworth Air Force Base plays a critical role in our national defense," said Rounds. "As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I continue to seek policies that protect Ellsworth and the men and women who are stationed there. I thank Colonel Edw… Continue Reading
03.15.18
Delegation Presses Veterans Affairs Secretary on Future of Hot Springs Facility
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 sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin expressing continued concern with the VA's misguided intention to realign services within the VA Black Hills Health Care System and halt any associated reduction in services at the Hot Springs facility until a national review of the VA's footprint and delivery of care is completed. The delegation also reque… Continue Reading
03.14.18
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Bill to Provide Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today issued the following statement on the Senate passage of S. 2155, The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. Rounds, an original sponsor of S. 2155, led seven different provisions included in the final legislation. "The first major overhaul of our financial system since Dodd-Frank, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act begins to undo unnecessary regu… Continue Reading
03.13.18
Rounds Statement on Additional Delay of ELD Rules for Agriculture Commodities
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DoT) decision to issue an additional 90-day delay of the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules for live-load truckers. Originally scheduled to take effect in December 2017, today's announcement delays implementation until June 17, 2018. "I thank Secretary Chao and other DoT officials for recognizing the need for additional time to continue to seek stakeholder input regar… Continue Reading
03.13.18
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at Cybersecurity Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, today delivered opening remarks at a hearing to receive testimony on the cyber posture of each branch of our armed forces. Rounds' remarks, as prepared for delivery: The Cybersecurity Subcommittee meets today to receive testimony on the cyber posture of each branch of our armed forces from: Vice Admiral Michael Gilday, Commander, Fleet Cyber Command; Lieutenant General Paul Nakasone, C… Continue Reading
03.13.18
Dakota Dunes Student Offered Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that Dakota Valley High School student Meredith Lammers has been offered a fully qualified offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, which she intends to accept. Lammers, the daughter of Gary and Lori Lammers of Dakota Dunes, received a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy from Rounds. "I congratulate Meredith on her offer of appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy," said Rounds. "Her desire to serve her country is admirable, and she… Continue Reading
03.09.18
Bipartisan Senators: Our Country Needs a Cyber Deterrence Strategy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, joined a group of bipartisan senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee in a letter to President Trump urging the completion and announcement of our nation's cyber deterrence strategy. In the letter, the senators emphasized the urgent need for a cyber deterrence strategy, stating, "The lack of decisive and clearly articulated consequences to cyber-attacks against our country has … Continue Reading
03.08.18
Rounds Statement on Tariff Announcement
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on President Trump's tariff announcement: "While I appreciate the president's attempt to bolster the U.S. steel and aluminum industries, I remain concerned about the negative consequences this policy change could generate. Producers in South Dakota are rightly concerned about disruptions in the trade market. If other countries decide to retaliate, it may impact our sales of corn, wheat, soybeans, livestock and other … Continue Reading
03.08.18
Rounds: FARM Act will Prevent Farmers and Ranchers from Being Subject to Needless EPA Regulations
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today held a legislative hearing on the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act, which he introduced earlier this year with seven of his colleagues, and is now cosponsored by 33 other senators. One of the witnesses at the hearing was Todd Mortenson, owner and operator of Mortenson Ranch in Hayes, S.D. "Cattle producers p… Continue Reading
03.08.18
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at EPW Subcommittee Hearing on FARM Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today delivered his opening statement at a hearing entitled "Legislative Hearing on S. 2421, the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act." Rounds introduced the FARM Act with a bipartisan group of senators earlier this year. "American farmers and ranchers are already required to comply with multiple federal regulation… Continue Reading
03.07.18
Rounds: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act Will Strengthen America’s Financial System, Expand Economic Opportunities
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the bipartisan Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, of which he is an original cosponsor. This legislation, which includes seven of Rounds' provisions, will provide much-needed regulatory relief to community banks and credit unions, whose ability to serve their customers has been made more difficult since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act i… Continue Reading
03.05.18
Rounds Asks Army Corps for Update on Steps it is Taking to Avoid Flood
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, wrote to Army Corps Assistant Secretary R.D. James to ask for a briefing on the 2018 Missouri River management plan. Recent reports show that mountain snowpack is already above average in the Upper Missouri River Basin, with most of the snowpack expected to accumulate in the coming months. The melting snowpack in the sprin… Continue Reading
02.21.18
Rounds, Colleagues Urge President to Re-Engage in TPP
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined 25 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump supporting his recent comments about re-engaging in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. "Reducing barriers to trade and investment, protecting American intellectual property rights and leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses, manufacturers, farmers, fishermen and ranchers is of utmost importance, and we ask that you prioritize engagement with the TPP so that the… Continue Reading
02.13.18
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Provide Certainty for Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with seven of his Senate colleagues, today introduced the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act. The bipartisan bill would protect farmers, ranchers and livestock markets from burdensome Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reporting requirements for animal waste emissions. These requirements were not intended to affect animal agriculture and instead were meant to address … Continue Reading
02.13.18
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at Cybersecurity Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, today delivered his opening statement at the subcommittee's hearing on the Department of Defense's role in protecting democratic elections. "There is no dispute about what Russia did during the 2016 election cycle," said Rounds in his opening statement. "There is clear evidence that Russia attempted to undermine our democratic process through the these issues with a hacking of inde… Continue Reading
02.12.18
Rounds, Colleagues Urge VA to Honor Veterans’ Emergency Care Claims
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, along with 11 of his Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin to request that the VA reimburse veterans who were billed for emergency treatment at private hospitals. In January, the VA announced that it would not retroactively reimburse veterans for their emergency treatment despite a court decision that ruled the VA is responsible for… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Rounds Statement on Judge Wollman
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on Judge Roger Wollman's decision to take senior status on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and will soon complete his regular active service. "I thank Judge Wollman for his service to our state and his lifetime commitment to our legal system," said Rounds. "Originally appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Judge Wollman has spent his career faithfully upholding the principles of the Const… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Providing Obamacare Relief for South Dakotans
Obamacare premiums rose 20 percent for South Dakotans this year, and I continue to hear stories of fewer health care options and out-of-control health care costs as a result of the ill-advised Affordable Care Act. While repealing Obamacare and replacing it with a consumer-driven, truly affordable system remains a top priority for me, we continue to take meaningful steps to provide Americans relief from this law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped relieve Americans from Obamacare, by including pro… Continue Reading
