There’s the ocean thing going on, and I’m going on an alligator boat tour in an hour.

Rounds Applauds Committee Passage of Critical VA Accountability Reforms

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today applauded the committee’s passage of several pieces of legislation aimed at increasing accountability at the scandal-ridden Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improving veterans’ benefits and health care.

“We have a duty to make certain the VA is properly managed so they can provide timely, quality care to our nation’s greatest heroes,” said Rounds. “I’m pleased the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee came together to pass meaningful reforms to the VA system. I will continue to work to keep the VA accountable. Our veterans deserve better than the current structure.”

The committee approved comprehensive accountability measures – the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2015 and a bill to prohibit the VA from granting bonuses to employees found guilty of misconduct – that seek to protect both veterans and taxpayers.

In addition, the committee today voted unanimously to approve the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 to boost veterans’ disability compensation to adjust for rising costs of living.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability Act of 2015 (S.1082) gives the secretary of the VA firing authority over any delinquent employee within the department. This legislation seeks to expand on a provision included in the Veterans’ Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 that gave the secretary firing authority over senior executives in light of the wait-time scandal that erupted in Phoenix, Ariz.

The second accountability measure passed by committee was S.627 to prevent the VA from awarding bonuses to negligent employees. The bill also gives the VA authority to rescind bonuses paid out to employees who are later found to have violated a department policy or law.

Additionally, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery and Other Improvements Act (S.1203), an omnibus bill that includes several provisions to improve veterans’ health care and streamline veterans’ benefits services.

Each of the bills approved by the committee will now be reported favorably to the full Senate.

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I don’t recall seeing bushes like these in South Dakota, as I zip across the Florida panhandle, and down through Tampa on my way to Venice, Florida.

As opposed to digging in hardscrabble earth for elusive diamonds, last nights’ entertainment was much more leisurely:

   
 
The top photo was my salad – a blue cheese wedge, and the second was my wife’s corned beef sandwich. We ate at McGuires’ Pub and Grill in pensacola Florida. Which ranks up there as one of the top Irish pubs I’ve ever eaten at in my life. (I had the grilled and smoked prime rib,)

Tonight’s activities will probably consist of getting settled in our rented home, and delivering the cat to my wife’s aunt, who I suspect will be quite happy to be rid of us, leaving us to enjoy the beach tomorrow.

There’s a rumor going around the car that Friday could involve a visit to the mouse place, but I quickly dashed that hope by telling my daughter that there is no chance of us going to Disney World. 

Instead the only place we would visit is “ditch-digging world.”

After our trip to the Crater of Diamonds State park, I’m not so sure a part of her doesn’t believe me.

*Update*

  
1000 miles to deliver a cat? It might have been worth it!

Thune, 49 Fellow Senators Raise Concerns With Planned Parenthood PracticesSenators Urge HHS Secretary to Comply with Investigations, Conduct Assessment to Facilitate Congressional Review

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined a bipartisan group of 49 fellow senators in sending a letter, led by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell following the release of footage by the Center for Medical Progress depicting senior Planned Parenthood Federation of America executives discussing in gruesome detail the organization’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies. In the letter, the senators draw attention to the legal, ethical, and policy issues raised by the footage and call on HHS Secretary Burwell to cooperate with ongoing and future investigations into these questions.

“The footage raises a number of questions about the practices of the organization, including whether they are in compliance with federal laws regulating both the use of fetal tissue and partial-birth abortions,” the senators wrote. “In addition to questions about Planned Parenthood’s compliance with applicable federal law and medical ethics, we believe the footage prompts important policy questions surrounding the issue of abortions permitted so late in a pregnancy – sometimes even later than 5 months – that an unborn baby’s organs can be identified and harvested.” 

The senators also requested that the secretary confirm the commencement or immediate initiation of “a thorough internal review of the compliance of the Department and Planned Parenthood – one of the Department’s grantees – with all relevant and applicable federal statutes, regulations, and other requirements.”

Full text of the senators’ letter can be found here.

 The complete list of senators who signed the letter include U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), David Vitter (R-La.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

  

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(Editor’s note – so, does this mean we have a candidate who listened to his attorneys?)

Former U.S. Senate Candidate Clayton Walker Changes Plea in Election Law Violation Case

PIERRE – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Clayton G. Walker, 33, Black Hawk, has pled to one count of offering false or forged instrument for filing and one count of perjury, both class 6 felonies, punishable by up to 2 years in the state penitentiary and/or a $4,000 fine.

Walker was indicted on June 17, 2014 for election law violations stemming from the 2014 U.S. Senate race.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 15, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the Hughes County Courthouse.

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Rounds Joins 49 Senators on Letter to HHS Secretary Concerning Planned Parenthood Practices

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined 49 senators today in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell following the release of footage by the Center for Medical Progress depicting senior Planned Parenthood Federation of America executives discussing in gruesome detail the organization’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies. In the letter, the senators draw attention to the legal, ethical and policy issues raised by the footage and call on Burwell to cooperate with ongoing and future investigations into these questions.

“The footage raises a number of questions about the practices of the organization, including whether they are in compliance with federal laws regulating both the use of fetal tissue and partial-birth abortions,” the senators wrote. “In addition to questions about Planned Parenthood’s compliance with applicable federal law and medical ethics, we believe the footage prompts important policy questions surrounding the issue of abortions permitted so late in a pregnancy – sometimes even later than 5 months – that an unborn baby’s organs can be identified and harvested.”

The senators also requested that the Secretary confirm the commencement or immediate initiation of “a thorough internal review of the compliance of the Department and Planned Parenthood – one of the Department’s grantees – with all relevant and applicable federal statutes, regulations, and other requirements.”

Full text of the senators’ letter can be found here.

The complete list of the 50 senators who signed the letter is as follows:

Senator Lamar Alexander
Senator Kelly Ayotte
Senator John Barrasso
Senator Roy Blunt
Senator John Boozman
Senator Richard Burr
Senator Shelley Moore Capito
Senator Bill Cassidy
Senator Dan Coats
Senator Thad Cochran
Senator Bob Corker
Senator John Cornyn
Senator Tom Cotton
Senator Mike Crapo
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Steve Daines
Senator Mike Enzi
Senator Joni Ernst
Senator Deb Fischer
Senator Jeff Flake
Senator Cory Gardner
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator Orrin Hatch
Senator John Hoeven
Senator Jim Inhofe
Senator Johnny Isakson
Senator Ron Johnson
Senator James Lankford
Senator Mike Lee
Senator Joe Manchin
Senator John McCain
Senator Mitch McConnell
Senator Jerry Moran
Senator Rand Paul
Senator David Perdue
Senator Rob Portman
Senator James Risch
Senator Pat Roberts
Senator Mike Rounds
Senator Marco Rubio
Senator Ben Sasse
Senator Tim Scott
Senator Jeff Sessions
Senator Richard Shelby
Senator Dan Sullivan
Senator John Thune
Senator Thom Tillis
Senator Pat Toomey
Senator David Vitter
Senator Roger Wicker

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Rounds, Blunt Introduce Bill to Allow Community Banks to Better Serve Rural Areas

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) today introduced legislation to support and strengthen lending in local communities. The Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2015 would roll back burdensome financial regulations to make it easier for community banks to serve their customers, who often reside in rural areas with fewer lending options.

“Community banks are the lifeblood of small businesses and economic activity in South Dakota and other rural areas,” said Rounds. “Relieving community banks from unnecessary regulatory burdens will increase credit access for South Dakota families across the state. With more than 6,500 community banks in the U.S., the federal government must make sure they are helping – not hindering – their ability to grow and support their communities.” 

“Community banks are an integral part of Missouri’s economy and the communities they serve,” Blunt said. “These banks often are the primary lenders to small businesses and farmers across the state. The Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2015 gives our local banks relief from burdensome financial regulations, allowing them to better serve and meet the needs of local businesses which will lead to investment and economic growth in communities in Missouri and nationwide.”

The Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2015 would:

• exempt community banks with $50 billion or less in assets from the Basel III capital rules;
• increase the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement qualifying asset threshold from $1 billion to $5 billion;
• exempt publicly held community banks with less than $1 billion in assets from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act’s internal control attestation requirements;
• allow savings and loan holding companies to use the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new deregistration and registration thresholds; and
• preserve current Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding the definition of “accredited investor.”

Earlier this year, the Community Bank Access to Capital Act of 2015 was introduced in the House of Representatives by Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. It is supported by the South Dakota Independent Community Bankers (ICBA) and national ICBA.

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Rounds: I’m Disgusted by Planned Parenthood’s Actions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after a second video has surfaced of a Planned Parenthood executive discussing the organization’s operation of selling body parts of aborted children.

“I’m disgusted at Planned Parenthood’s disregard for the sanctity of human life. This is further proof that the organization should not be receiving taxpayer dollars. I support a full and thorough investigation of this appalling situation.”

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USDA Announces Conservation Programs That Will Benefit South Dakota“This new program that I worked to include in the 2014 farm bill will not only provide incentives to preserve grassland … it will also help improve existing pastures and hay land.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) applauded the recent announcements by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the sign-up process will soon begin for a new Conservation Reserve Program-Grasslands (CRP-Grasslands) initiative authorized by the 2014 farm bill, and that an additional 21,000 acres are now available for South Dakota’s State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

“I’m glad that the sign-up process will soon begin for a new CRP-Grasslands initiative that will provide an incentive to keep more of South Dakota’s grasslands intact,” said Thune. “One of the greatest concerns of our state’s grazing livestock producers is the declining availability of grassland. This new program that I worked to include in the 2014 farm bill will not only provide incentives to preserve grassland, but with the 50 percent cost-share for establishing approved practices, it will also help improve existing pastures and hay land.”

Sign-up for the CRP-Grasslands initiative is expected to begin September 1, 2015. This initiative helps landowners protect grassland and rangeland, while also maintaining them as grazing lands. Participants may also produce or harvest hay for seed production, subject to restrictions during the nesting season of certain bird species. Annual rental payments under CRP-Grasslands may be up to 75 percent of the value of the grazing land covered by the agreement.

Thune’s sodsaver provision, a separate initiative to preserve native sod in the Prairie Pothole Region that is currently being administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency, was also included in the 2014 Farm bill.

“I was also pleased to hear that Secretary Vilsack responded to my request for additional SAFE acres,” Thune continued. “SAFE has been a popular CRP initiative, with more than 100,000 acres enrolled in South Dakota. South Dakota needs at least one million acres enrolled in CRP in order to sustain a thriving pheasant population, and the increased availability of the popular SAFE CRP acres will provide important conservation benefits and boost our state’s economy.”

Earlier this month, Thune sent a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack requesting an increase in SAFE acres for South Dakota.

The goal of South Dakota’s Pheasant SAFE is to enroll a total of 94,500 in CRP to provide block acreages in the form of nesting, brood-rearing, winter-roosting, and escape cover for ring-necked pheasants and other upland birds. The goal of the South Dakota Western SD Grassland Habitat SAFE project is to enroll 40,800 acres of habitat critical to declining grassland birds native to Western South Dakota. Targeted species include the sharp-tailed grouse, upland nesting waterfowl, and other birds.

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First Lady To Hold Book Walk

PIERRE, S.D. – First Lady Linda Daugaard will hold the third annual book walk for children in the backyard of the Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CDT.“The book walk is an opportunity to encourage children to read and give them the chance to get out and exercise,” said Mrs. Daugaard.

Children in junior kindergarten through the second grade are invited to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult. The walk will take approximately a half hour.

The featured books will be “One Duck Stuck” by Phyllis Root and “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper. Participants will walk around Capitol Lake and stop at stations along the way to read portions of the first book. “One Duck Stuck” by Phyllis Root will be posted along the inside driveway of the Governor’s Mansion for the younger children. After children arrive at the last station and finish the book, light refreshments will be provided. 

“The book walk should be entertaining for children as well as adults, and I hope those living in Pierre and the surrounding areas will take the opportunity to spend an evening outdoors with us,” said the First Lady.

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