Press Releases
Rounds on Senate Floor: President Biden owns the Afghanistan debacle and history will not judge him kindly
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate today regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. In his remarks, Rounds highlighted a South Dakota veteran from Belle Fourche, who reached out to Rounds' staff in hopes of evacuating her Afghan interpreter. Rounds also spoke in detail about President Biden's decision to reject the professional advice of his military advisors to complete a conditions-based withdrawal rather than a date certai… Continue Reading
09.29.21
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch and others introduced the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act, legislation to address the outstanding issues related to the administration's rushed and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. "The refusal to listen to commanders on the ground, failure to provide sufficient resources to execute visa processin… Continue Reading
09.22.21
Rounds, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Tribal Self-Governance for Federal Food Assistance Programs
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced bipartisan legislation that would allow tribes in South Dakota and across the country to have greater control over how federal hunger programs are administered. The SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act would give tribal governments the ability to administer the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as SNAP) through self-governance contracts.… Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds, Crapo, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Taxpayer Rights and Privacy
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate and U.S. House of Representatives colleagues to introduce the Tax Gap Reform and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enforcement Act. "I have heard from thousands of South Dakotans concerned about the proposed expansion of the IRS and the impacts it has on Americans' financial privacy-I share their concerns," said Rounds. "Rather than seeking massive funding increases and … Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds Announces $11.2 Million Grant Awarded to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for DoD Cold Weather Research
WASHINGTON - Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been awarded a $11.2 million grant to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). This new project called "Materials and Manufacturing for Cold Regions" will be conducted over a five-year time span, with funding going to faculty and student research at the School of Mines from multipl… Continue Reading
09.15.21
Rounds Encourages High School Seniors to Submit Applications for Nomination to U.S. Service Academies
PIERRE-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced that all nomination applications to our nation's service academies for the fall 2022 semester are due by October 1, 2021. "Each year, I am honored to nominate our nation's future military leaders to U.S. service academies," said Rounds. "By attending an academy, not only will students have the opportunity to serve our nation and help lead the best military in the world, but they will receive an excellent education at a top-notch institution. I … Continue Reading
09.14.21
Rounds Presses Secretary of State on Lack of Strategy in Afghanistan Withdrawal Decision, Pushes for Plan Moving Forward
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, pressed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the lack of strategy in the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan. When pressed by Senator Rounds, Secretary Blinken failed to provide insight into the United States' strategy to combat adversaries and uphold American interests abroad. Rounds also requested a classified briefing with the Secretary of State to gain a better understanding … Continue Reading
09.14.21
ICYMI: Rounds on Fox News: President Biden Made a Very Serious Mistake That Cost American Lives
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on Fox News' America's Newsroom this morning to discuss the upcoming Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing with Secretary of State Blinken on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hearing begins this morning at 10 AM ET/ 9 AM CT/ 8 AM MT. Excerpts from Senator Rounds' interview below: PERINO: What have you not heard the administration answer so far t… Continue Reading
09.09.21
Rounds Statement on President Biden Withdrawing Nomination of David Chipman as Director of ATF
PIERRE - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) released the following statement after President Biden withdrew the nomination of David Chipman as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "David Chipman's out-of-touch, anti-gun views threatened the Second Amendment rights of thousands of law-abiding South Dakotans," said Rounds. "Throughout his career and during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chipman made derogatory comments toward lawful gun… Continue Reading
09.08.21
Rounds, Thune, Colleagues Announce Bipartisan American Beef Labeling Act to Reinstate Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), today announced the American Beef Labeling Act, legislation that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. This legislation, which will be formally introduced next week, would require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to develop a World Trade Organization-compliant means of reinstating MCOOL for … Continue Reading
08.20.21
Rounds Speaks at Dedication Ceremony for the M. Michael Rounds Operations Center Building at the Sanford Underground Research Facility
LEAD-U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today attended and spoke at the dedication ceremony for Sanford Underground Research Facility's newest building, the M. Michael Rounds Operation Center (ROC) building. "This is truly an honor," said Rounds. "I am grateful to have worked with so many people who made the dream of transforming the Homestake Mine into an underground laboratory a reality. This project-which is such an important part of the community of Lead, the Black Hills and the entire state of… Continue Reading
08.13.21
Rounds Submits Comment Opposing NCBA’s Attempt to Eliminate “Product of USA” Label
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) submitted a comment in opposition of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Center for Public Policy (NCBA) petition which called for the elimination of the "Product of USA" label and the creation of a new "Processed in USA" label. Full text of this comment can be found below. "If FSIS adopts NCBA's proposal, consumers would have to sacrifice knowing where their beef comes from only to merely know where their beef is processed," Rounds said. "Con… Continue Reading
08.10.21
Rounds Statement Opposing Infrastructure Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) released the following statement indicating his intent to oppose the infrastructure bill: "For months, I have been working with my colleagues to negotiate bipartisan infrastructure legislation," said Rounds. "I chose to actively be involved in these discussions to give South Dakota a seat at the table throughout the negotiation process. In many cases, we were successful in advancing traditional infrastructure provisions that will directly benefit S… Continue Reading
08.05.21
Rounds to Introduce USA Beef Act, Restoring Integrity to “Product of USA” Label
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues announced the introduction of the USA Beef Act. This Rounds-led bill limits the use of the "Product of USA" label only to beef products that are born, raised and slaughtered in the United States. Current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules allow for foreign beef raised in other countries to receive this label. This bill outlaws this current practice and restores integrity to a currently mislea… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Rounds, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill that Would Require Public Disclosure of Highly Toxic Chemicals at Military Installations
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced the introduction of the Military PFAS Testing Disclosure Act. This bipartisan legislation would require the Secretary of Defense to publicly disclose the results of any testing for perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - highly toxic chemicals - conducted on military installations. Earlier this year, Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Rounds Statement on Confirmation of Frank Kendall III as the United States Air Force Secretary
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, released the following statement after Frank Kendall III was confirmed by the United States Senate as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force. "Secretary Kendall will be a steadfast advocate for our Airmen," said Rounds. "I look forward to working with Secretary Kendall to support Ellsworth Air Force Base, the B-21 bomber program and a strong nuclear dete… Continue Reading
07.28.21
Rounds, King, Sasse Introduce Bipartisan Cybersecurity Legislative Package to Better Protect U.S. Critical Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), commissioner of the CSC, have introduced a multi-tiered bill to strengthen America's cyber resilience and improve cybersecurity among the nation's Systemically Important Critical Infrastructure (SICI). Their bipartisan Defense of United States Infrastructure Act includes a number of key CSC reco… Continue Reading
07.28.21
Rounds, Colleagues Urge Senate Appropriations Committee to Support Israel’s Iron Dome
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) in sending a letter to Senate Committee Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) urging them to support Israel's emergency request of "$1 billion in security assistance in order… Continue Reading
07.28.21
Rounds, Banking Republicans Oppose Treasury Nominees Over Nord Stream II AG
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Senate Banking Committee Republicans today sent a letter informing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen of Republicans' intent to oppose two Treasury nominees until the administration imposes mandatory sanctions on Nord Stream II AG (NS2AG). "Until the administration complies with Section 228 of CAATSA, or adequately addresses the absence of penalties on NS2AG, we intend to oppose [Treasury] nominees Brian Nelson and Elizabeth Rosenberg should a … Continue Reading
07.28.21
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Provide Needed Flexibility for Emergency CRP Haying
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), John Thune (R-S.D), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and members of the House Agriculture Committee introduced companion bills that would improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) ability to allow for the timely emergency haying of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in response to drought and other weather-related disaster events. Under cur… Continue Reading
