Rounds expects another significant stimulus bill

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Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) held a press briefing on Thursday as he arrived back in the state. He discussed his views on the newly-passed stimulus bill that the Senate had approved late Wednesday evening.
While Rounds stated that it was “not a perfect bill,” he was very excited for the provisions for small business, stating that $350 billion had been earmarked specifically for small businesses. This money should allow many businesses of less than 500 employees to remain open and keep jobs open while staying at home and remaining diligent with social distancing and potential shelter in place orders from their local governments. Rounds encouraged South Dakota small businesses to begin applying for these funds as soon as applications open.

When asked, Rounds said he’d talked with S.D. Governor Kristi Noem and that loss of revenue for states was not addressed at all in the current bill that is working its way through Congress.
He said he believes that another “very significant” bill will be coming, which would be the fourth stimulus bill addressing conditions around COVID-19. While he mentioned the bill’s significance, he also was careful to state that he believed the current bill the U.S. House is now reviewing before it votes is going to be the largest of the stimulus bills that get passed.
Rounds was asked about distance voting, and he said that discussions have occurred, but nothing has been implemented at this time as Congress enters a two-week recess at the end of this week.
Rounds stated that he intended to diligently self-quarantine over the next two weeks due to his wife’s recent health struggles and his frequent public contact.