Mike Rounds
RElection Day is November 3 but you don’t have to wait until then to cast your ballot. Early voting has started in South Dakota. I really appreciate your support. Thank you! https://t.co/6JRtI419Ic
Today, on Native Americans’ Day we honor the rich history, culture and traditions of Native American communities and recognize their lasting impact on South Dakota and our nation. #NativeAmericansDay https://t.co/oF18mLHrwK
Saddened to hear of the passing of Deputy Katherine Frank. My prayers are with her family, friends and fellow officers as they grieve this loss. We must never forget the sacrifices made by those who protect and serve our communities.
I am pro-life and believe we have a responsibility to promote policies encouraging individuals to choose life. My record proves it. Thank you South Dakota Right to Life for your endorsement! https://t.co/S8DmZDsmsu
Please join me in praying for the officer in critical condition, her loved ones and the entire Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office following this tragic incident. Today and every day, we support our law enforcement officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
Team Rounds had a great time at the DSU homecoming parade in Madison today. Go Trojans! https://t.co/X0fp3OuQgl
Glad to sit down last week with Coleen Globke Brasch, my 2027 Angels in Adoption honoree and founder and executive director of All About U Adoptions, headquartered in Sioux Falls. Coleen is an inspiring example of someone who leads with compassion and cares deeply for everyone involved in the adoption process. It was a pleasure to visit with her, hear more about her story and learn about the meaningful work she is doing through All About U Adoptions.
Following my letter last week, I’m pleased to see that the President is taking steps to lower fuel prices, including a review of certain taxes on diesel. This is an opportunity to offer real relief to South Dakotans who continue to pay higher prices at the pump, particularly farmers and ranchers who are in the middle of harvest. We’ll continue to work on addressing the high cost of living impacting our state.
PIERRE – Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) called for a suspension of the federal gas and diesel tax for 90 days in a letter today to President Donald Trump. Additionally, Rounds asked states to consider suspending their own gas and diesel taxes. This would temporarily save consumers on average 60 cents per gallon on diesel fuel and 52 cents per gallon on gasoline. To offset the loss of revenue to the Highway Trust Fund, Congress can consider authorizing a one-time transfer from the General Fund. Rounds also urged President Trump to consider using his authority under the Defense Production Act to help domestic refineries expand their capacity, including refining capacity that is already online. “The prices at the pump are being driven by a global shortage of refining capacity,” wrote Rounds. “Americans feel the impact of this refining bottleneck every time they fill up at the pump, but farmers can’t stop their tractors and combines in the middle of harvest, and truckers can’t quit running their routes. We need to act now to bring down the price of diesel. The solution is one that you have promoted since your first Administration: unleash American energy dominance.” “Broader regulatory changes will of course take time. What we can and should do right now is explore suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year to give Americans immediate relief,” continued Rounds. “The federal gas tax is 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel and 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline…Those savings would make a huge difference for the American people.” Read the full text of the letter HERE or below. +++ Dear President Trump: I write to urge you to use your authority under the Defense Production Act to help domestic refineries expand their capacity. Democrats are telling the American people that the conflict with Iran is the sole cause of high fuel costs and that, if the conflict ended today, fuel prices would magically plummet tomorrow. As you know, that is false. Oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. The prices at the pump are being driven by a global shortage of refining capacity—a weakness in the global fuel supply chain that we should start addressing here at home. Severe refining deficits across Russia and the Middle East have left the United States and China as the last major refining powers standing. Americans feel the impact of this refining bottleneck every time they fill up at the pump, but farmers can’t stop their tractors and combines in the middle of harvest, and truckers can’t quit running their routes. We need to act now to bring down the price of diesel. The solution is one that you have promoted since your first Administration: unleash American energy dominance. In this case, that means invoking the Defense Production Act to expand domestic refining capacity. Your authority under the Defense Production Act is tied to national defense, which Congress defined to include “programs” for “energy production or construction.” The Act authorizes you to prioritize contracts relating to “materials, equipment, and services” in order to “expand . . . refining” and to “provide for the modification or expansion of privately owned facilities.” You also have the authority to incentivize domestic refinery expansion through loans and loan guarantees, subsidy payments, and purchase commitments. Together, these authorities can be wielded as powerful tools to expand refining capacity, including refining capacity that is already online. We won’t see the results overnight, but the sooner we start, the better. More broadly, we need to ease permitting requirements and cut through the other bureaucratic red tape obstructing American fuel production. As we clear these regulatory logjams, we also need to confront the bigger question of why no new major refinery has opened in the United States since the 1970s. Oil and gas companies are understandably hesitant to invest billions in new refineries when a change in the political winds could spell disaster. After all, onerous regulations and high compliance costs in California, a notoriously oil-and-gas-unfriendly state, recently forced two refineries to close. We need laws and policies that give oil and gas companies confidence to invest in large-scale refineries here at home, not regulations that stifle the industry. These broader regulatory changes will of course take time. What we can and should do right now is explore suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year to give Americans immediate relief. The federal gas tax is 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel fuel and 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline. To offset the loss of revenue to the Highway Trust Fund, Congress can consider authorizing a one-time transfer from the General Fund. I also strongly encourage States to consider suspending, or at the very least reducing, their own gas taxes. The average State gas tax is 35.5 cents per gallon on diesel fuel and 33.3 cents per gallon on gasoline. Suspending both federal and State gas taxes would amount to an average savings of 60 cents per gallon on diesel fuel and 52 cents per gallon on gasoline. Those savings would make a huge difference for the American people. Please let me know how I can be of assistance. I greatly appreciate your consideration. ###
Great to visit with Austin from Dakota State University, representing the Computing Research Association, to talk about issues relating to his field of study. https://t.co/QKNtw5nSXW
Spoke with Mark from Renner and Anna from Sioux Falls, who are members of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition, about the importance of keeping pharmacies at long-term care facilities open and available for South Dakotans. https://t.co/u1AhB9eglB
Good to see Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, Superintendent of Rapid City Area Schools. Appreciated our conversation on the importance of funding public education in South Dakota and placing control at the local level. https://t.co/4Q1mj5aRWh
Met with a few South Dakota folks with Growth Energy to talk about the need for year-round access to E15. We all appreciated the Senate Ag Committee advancing a Farm Bill that included a provision to allow for year-round access to E15. https://t.co/bkWf3Toflr
Had a good conversation with Lisa from Keystone and Linda from Leola with Concerned Women for America. Enjoyed discussing issues important to South Dakotans. https://t.co/2D1tSmQfa6
Good to visit with South Dakota folks representing Impact Aid schools in our state. These funds are crucial for the success of schools located near large sections of federally-owned land, and I’ll continue to advocate for fully funding this program in the Senate. https://t.co/Pw8KaVZRSp
It was a privilege to sit down with South Dakotan Kate Utley, whose husband lost his life while serving our nation in 2012, and other Gold Star families. Appreciated this group taking the time to share stories of their loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America. We are grateful for their service.
Recently sat down with South Dakotans representing the turkey industry to discuss animal health, ag labor and trade priorities. https://t.co/76zkHYYQyx
Today I voted in favor of the Ratepayer Protection Act to protect families and small businesses from paying higher electric bills due to data center construction in their communities. The key to this bill is preserving state local control. Data centers should only be built if their companies pay their own way and provide the power they consume. Very pleased that South Dakota is leading the way with similar legislation already in place at the state level.
Good to see Adam Bode, CEO of DemKota Ranch Beef in Aberdeen, in DC recently. Appreciated hearing about their efforts to distribute locally sourced, high-quality American beef. https://t.co/C40iFrsVzO
South Dakota is the top producer of bison in the country. South Dakota producers with the National Bison Association shared that demand is at an all time high. They’re focused on bison herd health as well as making sure we have enough grazing land for livestock to meet that demand. We talked about my legislation, the RANCH Act, which would increase the amount of grazing land available for livestock.
Always enjoy visiting with South Dakota Pork Producers about their work delivering quality pork products in South Dakota and beyond. https://t.co/aTWH9iqxK3
Sat down with South Dakota Autodealers Association to discuss federal policies impacting autodealers across the state. https://t.co/8BS7PMwDSc
Good to meet with the Dakota Credit Union Association to discuss ways Congress can support credit unions and the South Dakotans they serve. https://t.co/ve28lqOVLF
South Dakotans with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network came by recently to talk about the importance of cancer research funding at the federal level. https://t.co/Dirsy5upN4
Enjoyed meeting with Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau and CRST leadership for an update on the new school in Eagle Butte, which recently broke ground. https://t.co/uijC1LnAZ9