Press Releases
Rounds, Gillibrand Lead Bipartisan Letter to Obama on Israel
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) today led 22 Senators in a bipartisan letter to President Obama urging him to continue to reinforce the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel. The letter encourages the administration to continue the U.S.'s long-standing policy of focusing on negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians as they work toward a long-term, viable solution leading to two states living side by side in peace and security. It call… Continue Reading
06.25.15
Rounds Statement on King v. Burwell Decision
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) federal subsidies as constitutional: "Today's decision doesn't change the fact that the Affordable Care Act is fatally flawed. From increased insurance costs to website glitches and canceled coverage for millions, this law has hurt our economy and millions of American families. The ACA was a hastily-written law crafted behind closed doors, with littl… Continue Reading
06.24.15
Rounds Applauds Committee Passage of Six Year Highway Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today applauded the committee's passage of a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. "A healthy economy is dependent on a strong, safe and vibrant transportation system that allows us to move people, goods and commerce with ease. Roughly $20 billion in goods are transported on South Dakota r… Continue Reading
06.18.15
Rounds Applauds Senate Passage of NDAA Bill to Support our Troops
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today applauded the Senate's passage of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016, which included a number of provisions he offered. Rounds' provisions to protect B-1 bombers from premature retirement and improve the health care of our service members, military retirees and their families were included in the final NDAA passed by the Senate. "I commend my colleagues on bot… Continue Reading
06.11.15
Rounds Encourages Support of Bipartisan Defense Bill
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today spoke on the senate floor to encourage his colleagues to support the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2016. "I'm proud of my colleagues who serve with me on the Armed Services Committee for coming together to achieve a truly bipartisan, comprehensive bill," said Rounds on the senate floor. "Our bill will support our troops and meet the demands of a military that needs to co… Continue Reading
06.10.15
Rounds Applauds EPW Passage of Bill to Roll Back ‘WOTUS’
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today applauded the committee's passage of bipartisan legislation to curb the effects of the administration's 'Waters of the U.S.' (WOTUS) rule. The Federal Water Quality Protection Act, of which Rounds is an original cosponsor, would prevent the rule from taking effect and task the agencies with completely redrafting the rule using specific direction from Congress. "Freeing Amer… Continue Reading
06.09.15
Rounds Cosponsors Obamacare Replacement Plan
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) joined his colleagues in introducing the Patient Freedom Act, a conservative response to protect millions of Americans who are at risk of losing their health care coverage following the Supreme Court's ruling in King v. Burwell. The Patient Freedom Act, introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), lowers costs, eliminates mandates, gives states the power and puts patients in control of their health care. "The Administration has no plan to pr… Continue Reading
06.04.15
Rounds Cosponsors Legislation to Increase Veterans' Benefits
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, today joined Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) and other senators in introducing legislation to increase veterans' disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 (S.1493) would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and the clothing allowance fo… Continue Reading
06.03.15
Rounds Criticizes EPA Proposal to Radically Alter Ozone Standards
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today at a hearing questioned Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal that would dramatically alter ozone standards in the U.S. "This hearing was especially important to understand the impacts of what could be the most costly regulation ever imposed on the American people," said Rounds. "These regulations could force South Dakotans to pay to control ozone emissions that… Continue Reading
06.03.15
Delegation Supports Gov. Daugaard’s Request for Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today urged President Obama to declare a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for South Dakota counties affected by the May 10, 2015, storm and EF-2 tornado, during which nine people were injured and 57 homes were damaged - including 27 that were completely destroyed. "We respectfully request that you declare a major disaster for the relevant areas of our state and that y… Continue Reading
06.03.15
Delegation Urges USDA to Take Responsibility for Pautre Fire
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (FS), and Office of General Counsel (OGC) to finally take responsibility for the Pautre fire that beginning on April 3, 2013, consumed standing grass on more than 10,000 acres of public and private pasture land, and damaged and destroyed fences, bales of forage, buildings, and trees. "We strongly urge you to recognize … Continue Reading
06.02.15
Rounds Delivers Maiden Speech on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D., today delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor to discuss the bipartisan RESTORE Resolution, which seeks to free Americans from overregulation. RESTORE would establish a Joint Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of rules enacted by federal agencies and analyze the feasibility and options for creating a rules review process in congress. Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Madam President, I rise today, for the first time speaking… Continue Reading
06.01.15
Rounds Welcomes Summer Interns to Washington
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today welcomed four South Dakota college students as Summer 2015 interns in his Washington, D.C., office. Brandon Van Beek is from Beresford, SD, and is currently a student at the University of South Dakota. Brandon is majoring in political science and economics. Dustin Santjer is from Aberdeen, SD, and is currently a student at the University of South Dakota. Dustin is majoring in political science and finance. Leah Gosch is from Rapid City, SD,… Continue Reading
06.01.15
Rounds Announces New Washington Office Location
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that his Washington, D.C., office has moved to the Hart Senate Office Building. Effective, today, June 1, 2015, his new office location will be 502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510. The office phone and fax numbers will remain unchanged at (202) 224-5842 (phone), (844) 875-5268 (toll free phone) and (202) 224-7482 (fax). The office hours will continue to be 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. wh… Continue Reading
05.29.15
Regulation without Representation
The burden placed on Americans to pay for federal regulations in 2014 far exceeded the cost we paid in income taxes. According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Americans paid $1.88 trillion in regulatory compliance and $1.4 trillion in individual federal income taxes. These numbers should concern every one of us. Not only are regulatory costs taking money out of the pockets of South Dakota families, they are stunting economic growth and crushing the can-do American spirit that founded ou… Continue Reading
05.27.15
Rounds Statement on WOTUS Final Rule
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement on the administration's Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) final rule, which was announced today. Last month, Rounds joined his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to curb the effects of WOTUS. "The WOTUS rule is a broad expansion of federal jurisdiction that infringes on private landowners' rights throughout South Dakota," said Rounds. "It goes far beyo… Continue Reading
05.21.15
Rounds Applauds Banking Committee Passage of Regulatory Reform Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, applauded today's passage of "The Financial Regulatory Improvement Act of 2015" out of committee. "I am pleased to see this important legislation move forward," said Rounds. "The bill passed through committee today will provide much-needed regulatory relief to the financial services industry and the consumers they serve. South Dakota's banking industry has been hit hard by rules … Continue Reading
05.20.15
Rounds Introduces RESTORE To Permanently Address Regulatory Reform
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced a resolution to permanently address overregulation in America. The bipartisan Regulation Sensibility Through Oversight Restoration (RESTORE) Resolution would establish a Joint Select Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of rules enacted by federal agencies and analyze the feasibility and options for creating a rules review process in congress. The committee would also hold hearings on the effects of these rules and recommend wa… Continue Reading
05.20.15
Rounds Chairs Hearing on Oversight of Scientific Advisory Panels and Processes at the EPA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, today conducted a hearing on the science behind the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision-making. The hearing focused on oversight of scientific advisory panels and processes at the EPA and included a legislative hearing on S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015. "The EPA is supposed to rely on science as the … Continue Reading
05.19.15
Rounds Questions Witnesses on Misguided EPA Methodology Used in WOTUS Rulemaking Process
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW), today at a hearing questioned methods used to write the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) proposal. Last month, Rounds joined his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to curb the effects of WOTUS if it is implemented. A final rule is expected this week. "The WOTUS rule would greatly expand EPA's authority under the Clean Water Act and could impose dramatic new regulator… Continue Reading
