Press Releases
Rounds Urges VA to Comply with 2010 Law that Protects Veterans from Exorbitant ER Bills
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with the Veterans' Emergency Care Fairness Act. This law, enacted in February 2010, is intended to make certain that veterans with private health insurance are covered by the VA if their outside insurance does not cover the full amount of non-VA emergency care. Despite its unanimous support and clear congressional intent, the VA has continued its previous policy … Continue Reading
11.23.16
Delegation Disappointed by Secretary McDonald’s Decision to Decline Hot Springs VA Tour and Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) wrote to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to express their disappointment and concern over McDonald's decision to decline a December 2, 2016, tour and meeting at the Hot Springs VA. McDonald will instead travel to the facility on November 30, 2016, a day on which the VA knows Congress will be session, thus … Continue Reading
11.22.16
Rounds' Thanksgiving Message to South Dakotans
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today released the following video to wish all South Dakotans a happy Thanksgiving holiday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRs4cZ7StLM ###… Continue Reading
11.15.16
Rounds' Office Offers Limited Number of Inauguration Tickets to South Dakotans
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that his office will offer tickets to the 58th Presidential Inauguration to South Dakota residents on a first-come, first-served basis. On Friday, January 20, 2017, President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as president on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Each Congressional office receives a limited number of inauguration tickets to distribute to constituents free of charge. South Dakotans interested … Continue Reading
11.10.16
Rounds Offers Commemorative Lapel Pins to Vietnam-Era Veterans
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, announced today that his office is participating in a program to give Vietnam-era veterans a commemorative lapel pin to honor and thank them for their service to our country. The Department of Defense conducts a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War by naming Commemorative Partners, such as Rounds, to distribute lapel pins to Vietnam veterans. "South Dakota is home to nearly 22… Continue Reading
11.10.16
Delegation Critical of Final EIS for Hot Springs VA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and John Thune (R-S.D.), and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today issued the following statements regarding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Black Hills Health Care System and the veterans facility in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Any decision on whether or not to close the Hot Springs facility based on the results of the VA's EIS will be d… Continue Reading
09.27.16
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Financial Stability to Muni Bonds
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), members of the Senate Banking Committee, led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing legislation to allow high-quality municipal debt to be classified at a level equivalent to debt issued by corporations. Debt sold by state and local governments is currently excluded from consideration under a rule requiring banks to hold enough highly liquid assets to fund their operations for 30 days. This excl… Continue Reading
09.19.16
Sens. Rounds, Gillibrand, Lead Bipartisan Initiative Urging President Obama to Reject and if Needed Veto Any One-Sided Resolutions at the UN
Senators: "At this delicate stage the international community should both provide hope to the parties and avoid taking action that would harm the prospects for meaningful progress" WASHINGTON. - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) today led a bipartisan letter with 86 other Senators urging President Obama to continue the longstanding U.S. policy of vetoing any one-sided United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution offered at the United Nations that would u… Continue Reading
09.19.16
Rounds Accepting Spring 2017 Internship Applications
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he is currently accepting internship applications for spring 2017. The deadline to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices is October 14, 2016. 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, sortin… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Passes Senate Indian Affairs Committee Unanimously
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today praised the Senate Indian Affairs Committee's unanimous passage of his Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act (RESPECT Act). This legislation 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. "Th… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Rounds Joins Colleagues on Senate Floor Urging Vote on Defense Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined his fellow freshmen colleagues on the Senate floor to reinforce the importance of funding our military operations through the appropriations process. Senate Democrats have blocked consideration of the 2017 defense appropriations bill six times, despite it passing unanimously out of the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year. "The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved [the defense appropriations bill] by a vote of… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Rounds Announces Staff Changes in Northeast South Dakota
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced the promotion of Josh Haeder to Regional Director in Northeast South Dakota. Additionally, Katie Murray, a Constituent Services Representative, is relocating to Brookings and will be based out of Rounds' Sioux Falls office. "Josh knows South Dakota, particularly the James River Valley," said Rounds. "He has excelled by focusing on developing strong relationships with residents and communities throughout the region. Some of the best … Continue Reading
08.30.16
Rounds Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing in Rapid City
RAPID CITY - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, today delivered the following remarks at his hearing entitled, "Oversight of the Impact of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Fish and Wildlife Service Regulations on Citizens' Private Property Rights." Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: The Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Managemen… Continue Reading
08.01.16
Selection Process for United States Senate Youth Program is Underway
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced the annual statewide selection process for the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) has begun. Two South Dakota high school juniors or seniors will join student delegates from around the country to participate in the USSYP's 55th annual Washington Week, which will take place March 4-11, 2017, in Washington, D.C. "Every student leader in South Dakota who is interested in learning more about the U.S. Senate, the… Continue Reading
07.28.16
Rounds Presents Medals to Revillo Resident Jerry Schafer
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) presented the Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" Device to Jerry Schafer of Revillo, S.D. in recognition of Schafer's service in the Vietnam War. "I was honored to join the Schafer family and their friends at the medal presentation honoring Jerry's service in the Vietnam War," said Rounds. "Jerry selflessly served our country in Vietnam, and it is fitting that he be recognized for his bravery in combat and h… Continue Reading
07.20.16
Rounds Joins 69 Colleagues in Letter to CFPB Requesting Changes to Banking Regulations
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined 69 of his fellow senators in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray, requesting the CFPB tailor its regulations to match the risk profile of credit unions and community banks when crafting regulations. Last week, Rounds introduced the TAILOR Act, which would require federal regulatory agencies, including the CFPB, to take similar steps to make sure the agencies consider the risk profile and business models … Continue Reading
07.15.16
Rounds, Donnelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Veterans’ Credit Scores
PIERRE- U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) announced today they have introduced bipartisan legislation that would protect the credit ratings of veterans wrongly penalized by delays in reimbursements for medical bills by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition to experiencing long wait times and issues making appointments through the Veterans Choice Program, veterans are also getting billed inappropriately for services because the VA has failed to pay health ca… Continue Reading
07.14.16
Delegation Introduces Legislation to Enhance State’s Outdoor Opportunities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would facilitate a federal-state land exchange that includes nearly 2,000 acres of federally owned land in the Spearfish Canyon and Bismarck Lake areas and nearly 2,000 acres of land in four separate state-owned parcels. U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. The delegation introduced its respective bills in response to a request from Gov. De… Continue Reading
07.14.16
Rounds Statement on Reopening of Rosebud Hospital Emergency Department
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the reopening of the emergency department at the Rosebud Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital, which had been closed since December 2015. IHS announced today that the hospital is set to reopen tomorrow, July 15, 2016, and will resume 24-hour, 7-day-a-week care. "The news that IHS and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services have agreed to reopen the emergency department at the Rosebud IHS hospital is a p… Continue Reading
07.14.16
Rounds Introduces Bill to Provide Regulatory Relief for Community Financial Institutions
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the Home Mortgage Disclosure Adjustment Act. This bill 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). "More and more of our community banks and credit unions in South Dakota have stopped offering mortgage lending services simply because they can't a… Continue Reading
