Press Releases
Rounds Introduces Legislation to Dismantle CFPB
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today announced he introduced legislation to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by eliminating its funding stream from the Federal Reserve. "A product of the ill-advised Dodd-Frank Reform Act, the CFPB is an unaccountable regulatory agency ran by unelected bureaucrats with no oversight from Congress," said Rounds. "No unchecked federal agency should have the power to dramatically alter … Continue Reading
02.14.17
Rounds Reintroduces Bill to Ease Regulatory Burden on Local Banks & Credit Unions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today reintroduced the Taking Account of Institutions with Low Operation Risk (TAILOR) Act, a bill to require federal regulatory agencies to take risk profiles and business models of institutions into account when crafting regulations. "Financial institutions across South Dakota have been negatively impacted by burdensome, unnecessary regulations because of disproportionate comp… Continue Reading
02.10.17
Rounds Statement on Meeting With Sonny Perdue
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after his meeting with former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, who President Trump recently nominated to be Secretary of Agriculture: "I thank Governor Perdue for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss the importance of agriculture," said Rounds. "During our meeting, we discussed the importance of maintaining the vital crop insurance program, increasing trade opportunities and seeking ways to strengthen our a… Continue Reading
02.09.17
Rounds to Chair EPW Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee Again in 115th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today announced that he will serve as Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight for the 115th Congress. Rounds previously served as the Chairman of this subcommittee during the 114th Congress. "I am honored to have the opportunity to continue chairing this important subcommittee and build upon the work we accomplished in the 114th C… Continue Reading
02.09.17
Rounds Joins Colleagues in Urging Administration to Pursue a Tough Russia Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in sending a letter to President Trump urging his administration to pursue a principled and tough-minded Russia policy, highlighting Russia's aggressive behavior in Ukraine, Syria and cyberspace. The letter reads in full: Dear Mr. President: We write to ask you … Continue Reading
02.08.17
Rounds: Jeff Sessions Will Make Certain That Justice is Done for all Americans
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to be Attorney General. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG08WvAZ6Xg&feature=youtu.be Full remarks as prepared for delivery: " I rise today regarding the upcoming confirmation vote on Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama to be Attorney General of the United States. For the past two years, I have had the great pleasure of working with Senator Sessions in this body. W… Continue Reading
02.08.17
Rounds Reintroduces RESPECT Act in 115th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act. The RESPECT Act would repeal several outdated, offensive federal laws against Native Americans, including laws that allow for the forced removal of Native American children from their homes to be sent to boarding schools and laws subjecting Native Americans to forced labor. "The laws that would be repealed under the RESPECT Act are a s… Continue Reading
02.02.17
President Approves 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.) issued the following statements after President Trump approved South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard's request for a major disaster declaration for 24 counties and two tribal governments in South Dakota. The federal disaster assistance will help communities recover from strong winter thunderstorms and a subsequent blizzard that resulted in flooding, significant snow and ice accumulations, and high… Continue Reading
02.01.17
Rounds Questions VA Nominee Dr. David Shulkin on Future of Hot Springs During Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today questioned Dr. David Shulkin, nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the future of the VA facility in Hot Springs, SD. "At the Black Hills VA System in Hot Springs, SD, there are a host of individuals there who have-since that town was created-served veterans at in-treatment facilities," said Rounds during the hearing. "They've also made it very clear that they … Continue Reading
02.01.17
Rounds: Democrat Boycott of Qualified EPA Nominee is “Childish”
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today expressed his disappointment that EPW Committee Democrats boycotted the scheduled business meeting to debate and vote on the advancement of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This boycott was despite EPW Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) giving Committee members unprecedented opportunity to question … Continue Reading
01.31.17
Rounds Statement on Meeting with Jay Clayton
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today made the following statement after his meeting with Walter J. "Jay" Clayton, whom President Trump has nominated to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). "I thank Mr. Clayton for meeting with me today to discuss a number of issues, including the need to protect the markets against damaging cyber threats and reducing the regulatory burden at the SEC," s… Continue Reading
01.30.17
Rounds Appointee Accepted to U.S. Air Force Academy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today called Madison High School student Samantha Herman to notify her of her offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. Rounds was pleased to hear that Herman intends to accept the offer. Herman, the daughter of William Herman and Tara Erbentraut of Madison, received a principal nomination to the United States Air Force Academy from Rounds. "I congratulate Samantha on her offer of appointment to the United States Air Force Acade… Continue Reading
01.24.17
Rounds Statement on Meeting with Dr. David Shulkin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today made the following statement after his meeting with Dr. David Shulkin, whom President Trump has nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "I thank Dr. Shulkin for meeting with me to discuss our shared goals of fixing the systemic problems facing the VA and making our veterans the top priority," said Rounds. "During our meeting, we discussed the future of the VA heal… Continue Reading
01.24.17
Rounds Questions SBA Nominee Linda McMahon During Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today questioned Linda McMahon, nominee to be administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), on the role the agency would take to withdraw the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. "Many family farms and ranches would be impacted by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Waters of the U.S. rule," said Rounds during the hearing. "The SBA's Office of Advocacy sent a le… Continue Reading
01.24.17
Rounds Statement on Trump’s Executive Actions to Move Keystone XL, Dakota Access Pipelines Forward
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on President Trump's executive action to move forward with construction of the Keystone Xl and Dakota Access pipelines. "President Trump understands that pipelines provide an effective and efficient means of transporting natural resources and meeting our country's energy needs," said Rounds. "Good domestic energy policies include an 'all of the above' approach that will strengthen our economy, create jobs and en… Continue Reading
01.23.17
Rounds Statement on Heather Wilson’s Nomination to Serve as Air Force Secretary
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the nomination of Dr. Heather Wilson, president of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T), to be secretary of the Air Force: "I congratulate Dr. Wilson for being nominated to lead the Air Force," said Rounds. "While I am selfishly disappointed she won't be continuing to serve SDSM&T, our state's loss is our country's gain. Her experience as… Continue Reading
01.18.17
Rounds Questions EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt at Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW), today questioned Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt during his confirmation hearing to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "As the Attorney General, you represented the interests of your state-both your state's economy and your state's environment," said Rounds during the hearing. "But, just because you are pro-economic development does not mea… Continue Reading
01.18.17
Rounds to Chair Newly-Formed Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), announced today that he will serve as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity in the 115th Congress. "It is an honor to be chosen to chair this important subcommittee, which will be tasked with oversight and legislation for policies and programs relating to the Defense Department's cyber forces and capabilities," said Rounds. "Of particular concern to me is the Defense… Continue Reading
01.17.17
Rounds Appointee Accepted to U.S. Military Academy at West Point
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today called Mitchell High School student Spencer Mohr to notify him of his offer of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Rounds was pleased to hear that Mohr intends to accept the offer. Mohr, the son of Mike and Kim Mohr of Mitchell, received a principal nomination to the U.S. Military Academy from Rounds. He previously received an acceptance letter to the U.S. Naval Academy. "I congratulate Spencer on his offer o… Continue Reading
01.12.17
Rounds Questions General Mattis on Sequestration and Military Readiness in Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned General James Mattis during his confirmation hearing to be the Secretary of Defense. "Sometimes I think we misunderstand in this country that the number one priority that we should be looking at is the defense of our country, because if we're not free, nothing else really matters," said Rounds at the hearing. "When you talk about sequestration, we seem to have a misunderstanding that … Continue Reading
