The history of Native Americans is deeply woven into the fabric of America, especially in South Dakota. While we are all South Dakotans, I recognize the sovereignty of tribal governments. This creates a special relationship when interacting with local, state and federal agencies. I am committed to working as partners to seek realistic, long-term and innovative solutions to the unique circumstances tribal governments face.
In December 2022, a piece of legislation I’ve been working on since I came to the United States Senate was passed into law. The Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act repealed 11 outdated federal laws, including laws that stripped Native American children from their families for the purpose of placing them in “Indian reform schools,” such as the now-infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School.
My Latest Work On Tribal Relations
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09.24.2024
Delegation Urges Biden to Grant Disaster Declaration for Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
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08.22.2024
Rounds Presses Interior Secretary to Update Funding Formula for Tribal Law Enforcement
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08.05.2024
Rounds, Cortez Masto Introduce Legislation to Extend Reporting Deadline for Emergency Tribal Care
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07.25.2024
Rounds, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Tribal Government Requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants
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05.17.2024
Rounds Leads Colleagues in Requesting Funding Increase for Tribal Law Enforcement Programs
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03.01.2024
Rounds, Thune Request GAO Inquiry into Tribal Law Enforcement Budget, Public Safety Crisis
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02.12.2024
Rounds, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Hold IHS Accountable to 30-Day Timeline for Outside Care Reimbursements
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11.17.2023
Rounds, Thune Legislation to Preserve Tribal Property Rights at Wounded Knee Massacre Site Unanimously Passes Committee
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11.16.2023
Rounds, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve USDA Tribal Programs
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10.30.2023
Rounds Leads Letter Urging IHS to Improve Accessibility to Health Care Services
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07.28.2023
Rounds Secures NAIV Inclusion in Senate NDAA
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07.19.2023
Rounds, Thune Applaud Senate Passage of Their Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act
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06.13.2023
Rounds, Thune and Johnson Request Additional Support for Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies in South Dakota
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05.11.2023
Rounds, Luján and Johnson Introduce National American Indian Veterans Charter Bill
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03.23.2023
Rounds Introduces South Dakota Witnesses at Indian Affairs Roundtable
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03.22.2023
Rounds, Mullin Introduce Legislation to Protect Tribal Members Second Amendment Rights
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02.21.2023
Rounds, Tester Legislation to Improve Homeownership Opportunities for Native American Veterans Passes Committee
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02.10.2023
Rounds, Tester Leading Legislation to Improve Homeownership Opportunities for Native American Veterans
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02.01.2023
Rounds Secures Key Committee Memberships for 118th Congress
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01.27.2023
Rounds, Thune and Johnson Request Biden to Approve Major Disaster Declaration Requests of Tribes in South Dakota
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01.11.2023
Rounds, Tester Bill to Protect and Expand National and Tribal Veterans’ Cemeteries Signed into Law
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12.27.2022
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Signed into Law
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12.14.2022
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Passes House; Heading to President’s Desk
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12.06.2022
Rounds, Fischer and Colleagues Introduce Bill Giving Tribal Colleges and Universities a Stronger Voice in Education Funding
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11.21.2022
Rounds’ National American Indian Veterans Charter Bill Unanimously Passes Out of Senate
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07.14.2022
Rounds and Tester Introduce Legislation to Improve Homeownership Opportunities for Native American Veterans
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04.29.2022
South Dakotan Testifies on Behalf of Rounds’ RESPECT Act
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10.22.2021
Rounds, Heinrich Introduce Indian Buffalo Management Act
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09.22.2021
Rounds, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Tribal Self-Governance for Federal Food Assistance Programs
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07.21.2021
ICYMI: Rounds Discusses Tribal Housing with Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Housing Authority Executive Director during Senate Banking Subcommittee Hearing
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07.13.2021
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Native Housing Funding
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06.14.2021
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Unanimously Passes Out of Senate
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05.20.2021
Rounds, Luján Introduce Bill to Create a Congressional Charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) Organization
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03.25.2021
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Unanimously Passes Out of Indian Affairs Committee
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03.19.2021
Rounds, Smith Lead Bipartisan Push to Repeal Outdated, Discriminatory Laws Against Native Americans
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02.04.2021
Rounds Secures Five Key Committee Memberships for 117th Congress
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06.05.2020
Rounds, Thune Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bill to Allow Tribal Grant Schools to Devote Additional Resources to Improving Education
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06.04.2020
Rounds, Moran, Tester Lead Call for GAO Report on the VA’s Native American Direct Loan Program
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04.29.2020
Rounds, Cramer Urge Treasury Department to Allot Fair and Equitable Amount of Funding to Tribes in the Great Plains Region
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04.24.2020
Following Rounds Request, SBA Modifies Rules to Allow All Gaming Facilities to be Eligible for Small Business Relief Program
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11.19.2019
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Passes Senate With Unanimous Support
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07.24.2019
Rounds Statement on HHS Inspector General Report of Rosebud Hospital Emergency Department Closure and Reopening
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07.10.2019
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Repeal Antiquated, Hostile Laws Directed Toward Native Americans
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04.03.2019
Rounds, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Protect Tribal Veterans' Health Care
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02.14.2019
Rounds Reintroduces IHS Assessment Legislation
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01.30.2019
Delegation Introduces Legislation to Allow Tribal Grant Schools to Devote Additional Resources to Improving Education
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10.22.2018
What They're Saying About Rounds' Bill to Require a Comprehensive Assessment of IHS
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09.26.2018
Rounds’ IHS Assessment Legislation Passes Out of Committee, Heads to Full Senate Floor
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06.08.2018
Delegation Introduces Bills to Allow Tribal Grant Schools to Focus Resources to Improve Education
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05.31.2018
USDA Announces New Relending Pilot Program on Tribal Lands in South Dakota
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05.24.2018
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Tribes from Costly Obamacare Employer Mandate
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11.30.2017
Rounds' RESPECT Act Passes Senate
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11.14.2017
Delegation Meets With Indian Health Service Director Nominee
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11.08.2017
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement on his IHS Assessment Bill
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04.24.2017
Rounds Announces New Staff Hire in Sioux Falls Office
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03.29.2017
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Legislation Passes Indian Affairs Committee Unanimously
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02.28.2017
Rounds Introduces Bill to Audit Indian Health Service
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02.08.2017
Rounds Reintroduces RESPECT Act in 115th Congress
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01.12.2017
Rounds Receives Dr. Carson’s Commitment to Address Tribal Housing Concerns
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09.14.2016
Rounds’ RESPECT Act Passes Senate Indian Affairs Committee Unanimously
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07.06.2016
Rounds Requests Audit of Indian Health Service
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06.29.2016
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Chairman David Flute Testifies in Support of Rounds’ RESPECT Act
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06.17.2016
Indian Affairs Committee Field Hearing Shines Light on IHS Crisis, Response
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06.17.2016
Rounds Delivers Opening Statement at Senate Indian Affairs Committee Field Hearing
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06.16.2016
South Dakota Senators Introduce Amendment to Help Tribes Construct New Detention Facilities
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05.16.2016
Delegation Demands Answers From the Indian Health Service
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05.12.2016
Rounds Urges Indian Affairs Committee to Consider Audit of Failing IHS System
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05.10.2016
Rounds Statement on Meeting Between U.S. Army and Tribal Representatives to Discuss Bringing Remains of Native Youth Home
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04.13.2016
Rounds Introduces RESPECT Act
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03.09.2016
Rounds: Administration Must Fix Obamacare’s Employer Mandate Glitch for Tribes
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02.03.2016
Rounds Issues Statement from Hearing on Native American Health Care in the Great Plains
