Press Releases
Rounds Encourages South Dakota Truckers, Stakeholders to Offer Comments on ELD Rules
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today encouraged South Dakota truckers and other citizens who may be negatively affected by Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules to voice their concerns. Last month, the Department of Transportation announced a 90-day delay of its ELD rules for live load truckers, which were originally scheduled to take effect Dec. 18. DoT is now is accepting public comments regarding agricultural commodities HERE until Jan. 19, 2018. "The ELD rules could have signifi… Continue Reading
12.12.17
Rounds Statement on NDAA Being Signed into Law
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued a statement after President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2018 into law. The NDAA includes 8 provisions authored by Rounds. "The NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation that we pass each year," said Rounds. "It authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) so our armed forces are able to successfully carry out their mis… Continue Reading
12.08.17
Rounds Opposes Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after voting no on the Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through December 22, 2017: "The federal government's budget process hasn't worked in more than four decades. I have been a vocal critic of the current system, which largely rubber-stamps federal spending with very little debate or discussion. This year, working within this broken system, we gave negotiators extra time to work out a compromise on sp… Continue Reading
12.07.17
Rounds Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Letter Urging Extension of Secure Rural School Program
WASHINGTON.- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined a bipartisan group of 32 senators in sending a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), urging them to include a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Program in any end-of-year legislation. SRS supports public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services and many other essential county services for more than 775 counties across the country. "The SRS progra… Continue Reading
12.06.17
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at EPW Subcommittee Hearing on Natural Disaster Clean Ups
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 "Challenges Facing Superfund and Waste Cleanup Efforts Following Natural Disasters." "Today this subcommittee will conduct a review of the response, remediation and recovery challenges faced by states and public officials tasked with securing superfund sites and ma… Continue Reading
12.04.17
Rounds Announces Nominations to U.S. Service Academies
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has nominated 23 South Dakota students to our nation's service academies for the 2018-2019 school year. "It is an honor to nominate South Dakota's best and brightest students to our nation's service academies each year," said Rounds. "This year, I was fortunate to receive nomination applications from an outstanding group of students. Each of the students I nominated possesses the leadership qualities and academic excellence to… Continue Reading
12.01.17
Rounds Statement on Senate Passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act overhauls our tax code in a manner that will allow businesses to flourish again and families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. It will provide more jobs, bigger paychecks and a fairer tax system, especially to lower- and middle-income Americans who haven't seen a pay raise in nearly a decade. Additionally, businesses will have the st… Continue Reading
11.30.17
Rounds' RESPECT Act Passes Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate's unanimous passage of his Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act. "Passing the RESPECT Act out of the Senate is the first step toward getting it signed into law," said Rounds. "Our legislation will eliminate a number of outdated, offensive laws against Native American citizens in the United States that are still on the books today. Though we can't rewr… Continue Reading
11.17.17
Rounds Supports Bipartisan Agreement on Economic Growth Legislation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, is an original cosponsor of a bipartisan proposal released by the committee this week to improve our nation's financial regulatory framework and promote a healthy economy. "In South Dakota, our banks and credit unions play a vital role in helping businesses thrive," said Rounds. "They help families fulfill their dreams of homeownership, buying a new car or saving for the future.… Continue Reading
11.16.17
Rounds Bill to Help Address Veterans’ Opioid Abuse Passes Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today praised the Senate's passage of the bipartisan VA Prescription Data Accountability Act, which he introduced with Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) earlier this year. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. "Opioid abuse is widespread throughout the United States," said Rounds. "Sadly, many of our veterans suffer from addiction to prescription painkillers prescribed to the… Continue Reading
11.14.17
Delegation Meets With Indian Health Service Director Nominee
U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today met with Robert Weaver, the president's nominee to be director of Indian Health Service (IHS). Weaver, who was nominated for the position in October, has nearly two decades of experience in hospital, mental health administration, and entrepreneurship. Weaver is a member of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma and is currently a consultative representative to U.S. Government Relations for his tribe in the are… Continue Reading
11.09.17
Rounds Statement on Senate Tax Reform Proposal
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on tax reform proposal introduced by the Senate Committee on Finance. "The release of the Senate's tax reform proposal today is another step toward delivering relief to American families and small businesses," said Rounds. "We are committed to a tax reform plan that will provide more jobs, bigger paychecks and a fairer tax system for South Dakotans. I look forward to reading the bill in its entirety and working wi… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement on his IHS Assessment Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today spoke in support of his legislation, S. 465, the Independent Outside Audit of the Indian Health Service Act of 2017, during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing. Since taking office in 2015, Rounds and his staff have analyzed the IHS and its shortcomings, concluding there are three primary areas of concern: there is no funding allocation strategy for the 12 IHS regions, there is no standard of quality measurement and there is high turnover … Continue Reading
11.01.17
Rounds Urges UN Ambassador to Address North Korea Cyberattacks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, today joined his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Nikki Haley, urging her to work with members of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution to more aggressively deter and punish North Korea's cyberattacks. While the UN has repeatedly condemned North Korea's nuclear ambitions, the country's regime continues to reap substantial revenue fro… Continue Reading
10.31.17
Rounds Statement on EPA Advisory Committee Directive
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 joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt in announcing a directive to improve the independence, transparency and diversity on EPA federal advisory committees. "Sound, reliable science is vital to helping the EPA make important policy decisions that impact the health of American families and… Continue Reading
10.19.17
Rounds Statement on Alexander/Murray Legislation
WASHINGTON- Following months of discussions between U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Angus King (I-Maine), Rounds made the following statement on the bipartisan Alexander/Murray legislation, which will give states additional flexibility to tailor their health insurance market to fit their individual needs. It also temporarily authorizes Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments, which will protect consumers from even higher premiums and help stab… Continue Reading
10.18.17
Rounds Accepting Spring 2018 Internship Applications
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he is currently accepting internship applications for spring 2018. The deadline to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices is Nov. 1, 2017. 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, sorting… Continue Reading
10.17.17
Rounds, Blunt Introduce Bill to Allow Community Banks to Better Serve Rural Areas
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) introduced legislation to support and strengthen lending in local communities. The Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2017 would roll back burdensome financial regulations to make it easier for community banks to serve their customers, who often reside in rural areas with fewer available lending options. "Community banks are a vital resource for small businesses and famil… Continue Reading
10.16.17
Rounds Statement on EPA Decision to End “Sue & Settle” Practices
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 made the following statement on the decision of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to end the controversial "sue and settle" practices at the EPA. "During the previous administration, 'sue and settle' practices resulted in new environmental regulations drafted by special interest groups behi… Continue Reading
10.06.17
Rounds Lists Priorities for Upcoming Farm Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), outlining a list of priorities for the upcoming farm bill. After closely consulting with South Dakota farmers and ranchers, these priorities emphasize the need to provide producers with the tools necessary to weather tough economic conditions and unforeseen emergencies that can hinder their operations. … Continue Reading
