Press Releases
South Dakotan Testifies on Behalf of Rounds’ RESPECT Act
WASHINGTON - Tamara St. John, archivist for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and a member of the South Dakota State House of Representatives, testified in support of Senator Mike Rounds' (R-S.D.) legislation that would repeal discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans. During a legislative hearing of the United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States, St. John testified on behalf of S. 789, the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encou… Continue Reading
04.29.22
Rounds, Cruz and Colleagues Oppose Biden’s DOJ Expanding Firearm Definitions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and 20 colleagues have introduced a Congressional Review Act Joint Resolution of Disapproval (CRA) to prohibit President Biden's Department of Justice from implementing a new rule to expand firearm definitions. The Biden administration wants to institute a final rule redefining a "firearm" under federal law to not only mean a complete product, but also its individual parts, often included in a weapons parts kit. If imple… Continue Reading
04.28.22
Rounds’ Bill Protecting Veterans Unanimously Passes Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds' (R-S.D.) legislation to reduce the cost burden faced by veterans for emergency care received outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs has unanimously passed the Senate. The Veterans' Emergency Care Claims Parity Act would prevent veterans from being held liable for payment of medical bills due to errors by the VA or by non-VA health care providers in submitting emergency care claims. The measure would also legislate a 180-day deadline from the date of… Continue Reading
04.13.22
Rounds, Cramer and Hoeven Introduce the Landowner Easement Rights Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) introduced the Landowner Easement Rights Act. This bill will prohibit the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from entering into a conservation easement with a term of more than 50 years. It will also give owners of existing easements the option to renegotiate, renew or buy out the easement. "The Landowner Easement Rights Act protects the private property rights of Sou… Continue Reading
04.12.22
Rounds, Johnson Introduce Traveler’s Gun Rights Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Traveler's Gun Rights Act. This bill would update federal law to account for various residency-related issues facing full-time Recreational Vehicle (RV) travelers, individuals with multiple physical residences, active duty military personnel and military spouses. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). "The Traveler's Gun Rights Act removes an unfair prohibition faci… Continue Reading
04.08.22
Rounds, Manchin to Biden: Don’t Cut VA Medical Services for Elderly Veterans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, led a group of ten bipartisan senators in calling on President Biden to consult with Congress and local stakeholders on a state-by-state basis on the potential impacts the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission recommendations would have on elderly Veterans. "We write to you today expressing our extreme concern with the VA's recommendations to the Asset and In… Continue Reading
04.07.22
Rounds Calls on VA Secretary to Address Failure at Sioux Falls VA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough this week expressing his concerns with the failure in leadership at the Sioux Falls VA (SFVA) and the Veterans Integrated Services Network 23 (VISN 23). The letter follows up on a recent meeting between Rounds and McDonough, where they discussed ongoing issues at the SFVA. Specifically, Rounds made McDonough aware that whistleblowers who have contacted his congressional office with con… Continue Reading
04.06.22
Rounds Delivers Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Rural Transit
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, today delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on public transportation in rural communities. Video of the remarks is available here. Rounds' remarks, as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Madame Chair, and thank you to our witnesses for taking the time to attend today's hearing and share your ex… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Rounds Issues Statement on SCOTUS Nomination Vote
WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) issued the following statement announcing his intent to oppose the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States: "While I acknowledge and appreciate the historic nature of this nomination, for there has never been an African American woman nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Senate's responsibility to provide 'advice and consent' on executive nominations requires full scrutiny of the nominee'… Continue Reading
04.04.22
Rounds Submits Comment on “Product of USA” Label
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) responded to a solicitation for comments from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding the "Product of USA" label in the Federal Register. FSIS is currently seeking feedback to determine the value consumers place on the "Product of USA" label. Full text of this comment can be found below. Interested parties can submit their comments on this petition here. "While I am pleased that the USDA is undertaking a review to strengthen the "P… Continue Reading
03.29.22
Rounds Meets with SCOTUS Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson
WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) released the following statement after meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden's nominee to the United States Supreme Court: "I appreciated the opportunity to visit with Judge Jackson today. I came into our meeting with an open mind and take seriously the Senate's responsibility to provide 'advice and consent' on Judge Jackson's lifetime nomination. In the days ahead of her final confirmation vote, I will continue to examine her judici… Continue Reading
03.28.22
Rounds Introduces Legislation to Increase Capital, Investment Opportunities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, introduced the Increasing Opportunities for Retail Investors Act. This legislation would increase both access to capital for new companies and opportunities for retail investors. "Companies need a way to raise capital without the regulatory burden of a traditional Initial Public Offering," said Rounds. "Additionally, individuals, not just investment firms, need more opportunitie… Continue Reading
03.24.22
Rounds Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Access to Capital for Startups
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, reintroduced the Developing and Empowering our Aspiring Leaders (DEAL) Act this week. This legislation would work to increase capital for small businesses by encouraging more investment by venture capital firms. The DEAL Act is supported by both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). "South Dakota entrepreneurs and startups need access … Continue Reading
03.24.22
Rounds, Kaine, Boozman and Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Hiring of Military Spouses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Military Spouse Hiring Act, legislation which would amend the tax code to incentivize businesses to hire military spouses. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.-19). "Our service members and their families are willing to sacrifice so much for our country," said Rounds. "One of these sacrific… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Rounds, Hagerty and Senate Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Take Action to Lower Record-High Fertilizer Prices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and 17 Senate colleagues are raising their concern to President Joe Biden regarding record increases in fertilizer prices approaching the spring planting season. As ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks and the rising cost of energy, among other factors, send fertilizer prices soaring, and with the potential of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to create additional disruptions, the senators are urging the Biden administration to imme… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Manchin, Rounds to President Biden: Absence of Rural Representation on VA AIR Commission is Concerning
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (SVAC), are leading the effort to make certain rural perspectives are taken into consideration by the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission. In a letter to President Biden, the Senators expressed their concerns that all those who have been nominated to serve on the AIR Commission are from heavily populated urban areas. Additionally, the Senators request that th… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Rounds, Thune and Johnson Fight to Keep VA Medical Facilities Open Despite Biden Administration’s Plans to Close or Downsize
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today expressed their frustration and concern with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recommendations to the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission to close or downsize several VA health care facilities in South Dakota. "The VA's recommendations to the AIR Commission should seek to expand and improve access to health care. Instead, the VA has issued proposa… Continue Reading
03.14.22
Rounds and Republican Colleagues Tell President Biden: An Iran Agreement Without Broad Congressional Support Will Not Survive
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined 48 Republican senators today declaring they will not support the revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, which, according to public reports, will weaken sanctions and lessen restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. "According to press reports, the Biden Administration may soon conclude an agreement with Iran to provide substantial sanct… Continue Reading
03.14.22
Rounds, Rosen Lead Bipartisan Letter to Homeland Security Secretary Requesting Information on Efforts to Protect the United States from Russian Cyber Threats
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security, led a bipartisan group of 22 senators in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security requesting information on efforts to protect the United States from Russian cyber and disinformation threats. The letter references past Russian cyber operations -such the SolarWinds attack - as evidence of their hi… Continue Reading
03.09.22
Rounds, Thune and Johnson Oppose the Biden Administration’s Recommendation to Realign VA Medical Facilities in South Dakota
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) issued the following statements after the Biden administration's Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) informed the VA medical facilities in Hot Springs, Wagner and Fort Meade that proposed recommendations as part of a multi-year nationwide review of VA health care infrastructure suggest they would be closing. "The concerns I warned against in 2018 when I voted against the VA… Continue Reading
