Press Releases
Rounds Cosponsors Legislation to Reform Post-9/11 GI Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today joined his colleagues in introducing broad, bipartisan legislation that seeks to improve veterans' education benefits and enhance the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 includes three provisions introduced by Rounds earlier this year. "Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices for our country, and they should be able to fully use the benef… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Rounds Joins Colleagues in Filing Resolution Disapproving of CFPB Arbitration Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined 22 of his colleagues in filing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) arbitration rule. "The arbitration agreements rule is yet another example of the CFPB overstepping its authority to impose burdensome, unnecessary regulations that do more harm than good," said Rounds. "If finalized, this rule would… Continue Reading
07.19.17
Rounds, King Reintroduce Bill to Give Small Businesses, Community Banks and Credit Unions a Say in CFPB Decision Making
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to make sure small businesses, community banks and credit unions will always have a strong voice in the rulemaking process at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by establishing three permanent advisory panels. S.1963, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Advisory Board Enhancement Act, would codify two existing advi… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Rounds, Donnelly Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve VA Data Sharing and Combat Opioid Abuse Epidemic
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) today announced the introduction of the VA Prescription Data Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation that would clarify current law to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to share data with state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) for patients who are prescribed opioids by VA providers, including both veterans and their dependents. The VA is currently only sharing prescription data on veterans, not their… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Rounds to Host Tele-Townhall Next Monday
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) is inviting all South Dakotans to join him in a live, toll free tele-townhall next Monday, July 17, 2017, at 8 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. MT to discuss the health care bill in the Senate and other issues important to South Dakotans. During the tele-townhall, Rounds will be taking live questions from participants. You can participate in the tele-townhall by calling the number or clicking on the link below: What: Tele-townhall When: Monday, July 17, 2017… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Rounds Supports McConnell Decision to Delay Scheduled August In-State Work Period
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement in support of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) decision to delay the August in-state work period until the third week of August. "I'm glad that Leader McConnell agreed to our request to remain working in Washington, D.C., for part of the scheduled August in-state work period," said Rounds. "This will give us the opportunity to continue working on issues that impact all Americans such as health care,… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Group of Senators Comment On August Recess Delay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), David Perdue (R-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Luther Strange (R-AL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) comment on Majority Leader McConnell's decision to cancel the first two weeks of the Senate's scheduled August state work period: "We are glad leadership took our concerns into consideration. It is time to get results for the American people." On June 30,… Continue Reading
07.10.17
Rounds Supports USDA Decision to Open CRP Acres for Haying
WASHINGTON - Showing support, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision to open up Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for haying in all South Dakota counties from July 16, 2017 - August 30, 2017. Last month, Rounds and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to provide timely assistance to counties currently facing extreme drought conditions. Since then, USDA has open… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Rounds Statement on Committee Passage of Annual Defense Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today issued the following statement on the committee's approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018. During debate, 277 amendments - offered by both Republican and Democrats - were considered, many of which were adopted. The committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate floor for consideration. "This year's NDAA takes important steps to rebui… Continue Reading
06.23.17
Rounds Supports USDA Decision to open CRP Acres for Grazing
WASHINGTON - Showing support, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision to open up South Dakota CRP acres for grazing in areas categorized as D2 (severe drought) or D3 (extreme drought) until September 30, 2017. Last week, Rounds and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to provide timely assistance to counties currently facing extreme drought conditions. "I thank Secretary … Continue Reading
06.21.17
Rounds, Casey, Booker Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Prenatal Care for Military Families
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced bipartisan legislation to make certain that pregnant women covered by TRICARE have the opportunity to receive critical, expedited prenatal care upon the first detection of a birth defect in utero. The TRICARE Treatment for Fetal Repair Improvement Act would help make certain that a pregnant woman covered under TRICARE, a Department of Defense program that provides health care to military personnel … Continue Reading
06.19.17
Rounds, Durbin Introduce Bill to Help Families of Wounded Warriors
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today introduced legislation to help make certain wounded warriors and their families are fully aware of the services available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver program. The Caregiver Program Information Improvement Act of 2017 would require the caregiver program to be added to the list of statutorily-mandated counseling items for service members pending separation from the Department of Defense.… Continue Reading
06.15.17
Rounds, Thune Urge USDA to Provide Timely Drought Assistance, Open CRP Acres for Haying and Grazing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D. and John Thune (R-S.D.) today urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Sonny Perdue to provide timely assistance to counties currently facing extreme drought conditions, and if drought conditions worsen, as expected, to be ready to provide expedited assistance to counties that will likely soon be in extreme drought conditions and eligible for assistance from the Livestock Forage Program (LFP). In their letter to Perdue, Thune and Rounds al… Continue Reading
06.14.17
Rounds: Today's VA Announcement will Save Countless Veterans from Incurring Improper Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today praised the announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken steps to comply with the Emergency Care Fairness Act (ECFA) and begin covering the emergency care costs of veterans with third-party health insurance when that insurance doesn't cover the full amount of non-VA emergency care. Since the ECFA has been enacted, an estimated 370,000 claims have been in limbo, forcing t… Continue Reading
06.14.17
Rounds: Bipartisan E-15 Legislation Benefits Consumers, Corn Producers Alike
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today at a hearing discussed the Consumer and Fuel Retailers Choice Act, which would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) waiver and lift the summertime ban on E-15 gasoline. Doing so would provide regulatory certainty and increase economic opportunity for business owners who sell E-15 and other higher-ethanol/gasoline fuel blends. "The corn industry in the state of South Dakota… Continue Reading
06.12.17
Rounds Statement on End of Ban on U.S. Beef Imports to China
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the administration announced the end of the ban on U.S. beef imports to China: "Agriculture is South Dakota's number one industry, with nearly 3.85 million head of cattle," said Rounds. "I am pleased with the administration's announcement and am glad we are now able to export our high-quality beef to China. Opening up this new, lucrative market will create substantial opportunities for South Dakota ranchers an… Continue Reading
06.09.17
Rounds Calls for Administration to Reverse Obama-Era Regulations Limiting Consumer Choice
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined 13 of his colleagues in sending a letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price encouraging the administration to reverse Obama-era regulations that limit consumers' ability to purchase short-term, limited duration insurance plans. These plans offer consumers a variety of health benefits and are another option for health coverage, but a recent regulation decreased the maximum policy length of short-term plans from 364 days to just 90 days. As a result of th… Continue Reading
06.08.17
Rounds, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Provide Flexibility Regarding Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits for Family Members
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to allow more flexibility in allocating Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to survivors of service members. The bipartisan Increasing Transferability of Entitlement to Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2017 would allow survivors of deceased service members, who had Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits transferred to them, to reallocate those … Continue Reading
06.08.17
Support Grows for Rounds’ Legislation to Provide Relief to Community Banks & Credit Unions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today heard from a panel of community bank and credit union CEOs about the negative impact federal regulations are having on their ability to serve their customers. Specifically, the panel agreed that two of Rounds' bills to provide regulatory relief to small-and-medium-sized banks, The Home Mortgage and Disclosure Adjustment Act (HMDA) and The TAILOR Act, would be beneficial to their consumers. Rounds to th… Continue Reading
06.08.17
Rounds, Heitkamp Introduce Bill to Provide Regulatory Relief for Community Financial Institutions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), members of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced the Home Mortgage Disclosure Adjustment Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide regulatory relief for community banks and credit unions by exempting them from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) revised Regulation C final rule, which amends the 1975 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Additional cosponsors include Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Joe Donnel… Continue Reading
