Press Releases
Rounds Statement on Democrat Filibuster of Bill to Stop WOTUS
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats filibustered S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, of which he is an original cosponsor. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act would have prevented the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule from taking effect and would have tasked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers with completely redr… Continue Reading
11.03.15
Rounds Statement on TransCanada Request to Stop Presidential Permit Application Process of Keystone XL Pipeline
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding TransCanada's request that the U.S. government suspend its Keystone XL presidential permit application: "TransCanada's decision to ask for a suspension in the permit application process comes after seven years of delays by the Obama Administration, despite overwhelming support from the American people. Additionally, numerous environmental impact statements have found the pipeline will have no negative e… Continue Reading
11.02.15
Rounds, Ernst Call for Strengthened Support of Kurdish Peshmerga Forces in Iraq
WASHINGTON- Following a recent Congressional delegation trip to the Middle East, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter raising serious concerns voiced by foreign leaders in the region. The senators echoed concerns that the coalition effort to defeat ISIL is not achieving the desired outcome - including U.S. support for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and their Peshmerga Forces. They also called on Secretary … Continue Reading
10.29.15
Rounds Joins Bipartisan Effort to Save Student Loan Program
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with 53 of his colleagues, today signed on to a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-N.V.), urging them to take up and pass a one-year extension of the Perkins Loan Program. This critical lifeline for many low-income students expired on September 30, despite receiving a unanimous one-year, no-cost extension from the House of Representatives on September 28. "While our colleagues in t… Continue Reading
10.27.15
Rounds Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Protect South Dakotans from Cyber Threats
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on today's passage of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA). It passed the Senate with bipartisan support, 74-21. "The World Wide Web is a wonderful tool that has helped us stay connected with loved ones, pay our bills, shop with ease and explore new ideas from the comfort of our homes," said Rounds. "But we must also be mindful of those who use the Internet to scam others and steal private information. The b… Continue Reading
10.27.15
U.S. Secretary of Energy Updates Delegation on Neutrino Experiment Facility at Sanford Lab
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 important project planning update from U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz on the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF). LBNF will facilitate the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), which will be conducted at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota, and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Batavia, Illinois. The pr… Continue Reading
10.27.15
Rounds, Johnson, King, Manchin Announce New Senate Regulations Caucus
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) today announced the formation of the bipartisan Senate Regulations Caucus to address regulatory reform at the federal level. Recognizing the many movements and legislative efforts currently in existence to address regulation, the goal of the Senate Regulations Caucus is to unify and lead these efforts to advance meaningful regulatory reform in Congress. "With more than 1 million fe… Continue Reading
10.27.15
Rounds Cosponsors Resolution to Overturn Clean Power Plan Rules
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today cosponsored a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving forward with its proposed Clean Power Plan regulations for existing power sources. "While South Dakota has one coal power plant at Big Stone, we still get much of our power from surrounding states which would be seriously affected by the President… Continue Reading
10.22.15
Rounds: Obama NDAA Veto a Slap in the Face to our Troops
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after President Obama vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "Having just returned from the Middle East where I met with government and military officials, it is evident the need to provide a stable and clear path forward in our military endeavors. It is very disappointing that the President would veto this military authorization bill, simply because he wants to spend more money on agencies like the I… Continue Reading
10.21.15
Rounds Chairs Hearing on EPA Regulations
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, today conducted a hearing to analyze the process by which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) on the new regulations it imposes on the American people. The hearing, entitled Oversight of Regulatory Impact Analyses for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulations, is … Continue Reading
10.21.15
Rounds Opening Statement at Oversight Hearing on EPA Regulations
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, provided the following opening statement at today's hearing, entitled "Oversight of Regulatory Impact Analyses for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulations." The purpose of the hearing is to conduct oversight related to impact analyses for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, including adherence to applicable… Continue Reading
10.20.15
Rounds Votes to Protect American Families, Strengthen Immigration Enforcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today voted to proceed to debate on the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, legislation that would withhold federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions that fail to comply with certain federal immigration laws. Unfortunately, the bill was filibustered by Senate Democrats. "The fact that state and local governments release dangerous criminals who are here illegally should be of great concern to all Americans, whether or not they liv… Continue Reading
10.19.15
Following Concerns from Rounds, GOP Colleagues, DOL Announces Plans to Rewrite Fiduciary Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today made the following statement after the Department of Labor (DOL) announced plans to revise its proposed fiduciary rule. Earlier this year, Rounds joined 35 of his Republican colleagues in a letter to DOL Secretary Thomas Perez in which they outlined their concerns regarding the proposed rule and requested an extension of the comment period. "I am pleased that the Department of Labor has listened to the… Continue Reading
10.16.15
Rounds Congratulates 114th Fighter Wing on Air Force Award
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today congratulated the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard for receiving the 2014 Air Force Outstanding Unit award for the time period of October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2014. "The 114th Fighter Wing has been on the frontlines protecting our country," said Rounds. "They are among the best our nation has to offer, performing every mission with integrity, honor and selfless commitment. This award is recognition of what a great … Continue Reading
10.14.15
Rounds Introduces Fall Semester Interns
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced two South Dakota college students as fall 2015 interns in his Washington, D.C., office. Sophie Doeden is from Beresford, SD, and is a junior at Northern State University in Aberdeen. Sophie is majoring in political science and minoring in history and economics. She is involved in Girls State and teaches Sunday school at her church. Kristi Blackler is from Rapid City, SD, and is a senior at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. K… Continue Reading
10.13.15
Rounds Calls on VA Secretary to Hold Benefits Bureaucrats Accountable for ‘Shockingly Unethical’ Misuse of Funds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with other members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to hold accountable senior bureaucrats who participated in a "shockingly unethical" scheme at the Veterans Benefits Administration to increase pay for high-level employees by transferring them to other positions within the administration. According to a VA Office of Inspector General investigation… Continue Reading
10.09.15
Rounds Supports Court Decision on WOTUS
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and Chairman of the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight, made the following statement on today's Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to stay the Obama Administration's recent changes to the definition of "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS). The final WOTUS rule was released earlier this year. "I support the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to… Continue Reading
10.08.15
Rounds Supports Nomination of Randy Seiler to Be U.S. Attorney for South Dakota
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) announced his support for President Obama's decision to nominate Randy Seiler of Fort Pierre to be U.S. Attorney for South Dakota. Seiler, a longtime federal prosecutor, had been serving as acting U.S. attorney since March. His nomination will now head to the Senate for confirmation. "Randy is a friend who has earned the respect and admiration of many South Dakotans," said Rounds. "He has the experience, integrity and professionalism necessary to fait… Continue Reading
10.08.15
Rounds Signs on to VETS Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, today signed on as an original cosponsor to the bipartisan Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2015 (VETS Act). This bill would allow Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health professionals to provide telemedicine services across state lines if they are qualified and practice within the scope of their authorized federal duties. "The VA's telehealth program allows our veterans to rece… Continue Reading
10.08.15
Rounds Joins Colleagues on Letter Questioning Delayed OMB Report
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and chairman of the Senate EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, today joined his colleagues in a letter to the Hon. Shaun Donovan, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), regarding OMB's delay in publishing the required report to Congress on the benefits and costs of federal regulations. "Your office has yet to publish its stat… Continue Reading
