U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Investments in Rural Transit Act, legislation aimed at improving rural transit services. This bipartisan bill addresses key issues facing rural transit providers, including rising operating costs, complicated red tape, and difficulty procuring new vehicles. It also supports Tribal transit providers, who serve some of the most geographically isolated communities in the country.
Introduce and support legislation to improve rural transit services, address operating costs, reduce bureaucratic barriers, facilitate procurement of new vehicles, and support Tribal transit providers.
Occurrences
A bipartisan bill recently cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) would increase the federal operating share for rural transit to help transportation providers improve their services.
As we implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I think we should explore ways to utilize public-private partnerships to make local, state and federal dollars go further. We should also be looking at new ways to use technology. ... During implementation of the infrastructure law, it is also critical to reduce the regulatory burden as much as possible for the truly small communities around the country. ... Rural communities must have the freedom to use the funding in ways that serve them, not be forced into a one-size-fits-all approach.
Evidence
S.3978 Cosponsored — A bill to increase the Federal operating share for rural transit, and for other purposes.
A bipartisan bill recently cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) would increase the federal operating share for rural transit to help transportation providers improve their services.
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on public transportation in rural communities.
Last Action Date Listed: March 3, 2026. Action: Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the bill; it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Full title: To increase the Federal operating share for rural transit, and for other purposes.
Last Action Date Listed: March 3, 2026. Action: Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Full Title: To increase the Federal operating share for rural transit, and for other purposes. Cosponsors: Mike Rounds (SD); Tammy Baldwin (WI).
Last Action Date Listed: March 3, 2026. Action: Ms. Smith (for herself, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the bill; it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Cosponsors: Mike Rounds (SD); Tammy Baldwin (WI).
S.3978 is listed as 'Cosponsored — A bill to increase the Federal operating share for rural transit, and for other purposes.'
S.3978 ... Cosponsored — A bill to increase the Federal operating share for rural transit, and for other purposes. 03/03/2026
The official press-release index for the June 9-July 8, 2026 lookback window lists June 16, June 23, June 24, and June 25 releases on other subjects, with no listed rural-transit advancement after the March 17 rural-transit release on the same page.
Rounds announced the Investments in Rural Transit Act and described it as legislation to improve rural transit services by raising the federal operating-cost share, reducing regulatory burdens, easing procurement, and elevating Tribal transit at FTA.
GovInfo bill text identifies S.3978 as the Investments in Rural Transit Act, introduced March 3, 2026 by Tina Smith for herself, Mike Rounds, and Tammy Baldwin, then read twice and referred to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
The bill text would expand cooperative procurement, seek procurement-streamlining recommendations, increase the rural transit operating federal share from 50 percent to 80 percent, create a regulatory-relief process with rural and Tribal input, reserve certain bus-facility funds for Tribal transit agencies, and create an FTA Tribal transit role.
Rounds' official legislation page lists S.3978 as a cosponsored bill to increase the federal operating share for rural transit, dated March 3, 2026; the same page shows newer 2026 legislation entries but no later S.3978 advancement.
Assessments
The promise was framed as introducing and supporting legislation, not securing enactment. In the same Senate term, Rounds was an original cosponsor/supporter of S.3978, the Investments in Rural Transit Act, and publicly announced it as addressing rural transit operating costs, regulatory barriers, vehicle procurement, and Tribal transit providers. The bill had not been enacted, but enactment was not required by the promise text.
Rounds materially advanced the promise by cosponsoring the Investments in Rural Transit Act (S.3978), which directly targets rural transit operating support. The bill was introduced and referred to committee, and the record shows no enacted law or implemented program tied to his effort, so this is support/attempt rather than full delivery.
Mike Rounds materially advanced the rural transit promise by cosponsoring and supporting S. 3978, which was introduced in the Senate in his current term and targets higher operating support for rural transit. However, the available record shows only introduction and referral to committee, with no enactment or implemented policy change, so this is partial fulfillment rather than full delivery.
Senator Rounds cosponsored and supported S.3978 (Investments in Rural Transit Act) introduced March 3, 2026, which specifically aims to increase the federal operating share for rural transit — a concrete legislative action that aligns with the pledge to introduce/support legislation addressing rural transit operating costs. He also engaged in relevant committee activity (opening remarks at a rural transit subcommittee hearing). However, the bill was only introduced and referred to committee with no record of enactment or broader implementation (procurement, reduced bureaucratic barriers, explicit Tribal transit provisions) in the available evidence. Because he materially advanced legislation but did not achieve final enactment or clear implementation of the full set of promised components, the claim is partially fulfilled.
Rounds materially fulfilled the promise to introduce and support rural transit legislation during his current Senate term. On March 3, 2026, S.3978, the Investments in Rural Transit Act, was introduced by Sen. Smith for herself, Rounds, and Baldwin, and Rounds also listed it as cosponsored legislation. The bill directly addresses a core promised item by increasing the federal operating share for rural transit, and his 2022 subcommittee work shows related support for rural transit policy. Although the bill had only been referred to committee and not enacted, the promise was framed as introducing and supporting legislation, not securing final passage, so enactment is not required for full credit.
Senator Mike Rounds cosponsored bipartisan legislation to increase federal operating funds for rural transit, delivered remarks at a committee hearing on rural public transportation, and provided public support for improving rural transit. However, there is no evidence that comprehensive legislation covering all aspects of the original promise—including addressing operating costs, reducing bureaucratic barriers, facilitating procurement, and specifically supporting Tribal transit providers—was fully enacted or implemented. Therefore, the promise was partially fulfilled with meaningful legislative and advocacy efforts.