Rounds Highlights South Dakota Wins in 2026 Defense Bill Signing

Photo of the Week: I was pleased to be invited in the Oval Office with President Trump as he signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law.

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds capped off a historic legislative week by joining President Donald Trump at the White House for the signing of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The $900.6 billion defense package, which passed the Senate last Wednesday, includes several significant provisions for South Dakota’s military installations and service members.

Local Military Investments

The newly signed law authorizes substantial funding for infrastructure and modernization within the state, including:

·        Ellsworth Air Force Base: Funding for multiple construction projects to support the ongoing mission and future growth of the base.

·        Watertown Army National Guard: Authorization for a new vehicle maintenance facility to support local Guard operations.

·        Personnel Support: A 3.8 percent pay raise for all military members to address rising costs of living and support recruitment and retention.

“This keeps our military ahead of the curve, making certain they never enter a fair fight and always have the advantage over our adversaries,” Rounds said in his weekly update.

Wounded Knee Legislation Becomes Law

In addition to the defense bill, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act was officially signed into law this past week. The legislation ensures that 40 acres of land at the symbolic and sacred site will be held in restricted fee status by both the Oglala Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, preserving the area for future generations.

Historic Confirmation Pace

The signing ceremony followed a productive stretch in the Senate, where Rounds and his colleagues confirmed 97 of the President’s nominees in a single week. This brings the total number of executive branch confirmations for 2025 to 417, a pace that exceeds the first-year totals of previous administrations.

Community Outreach and National Security

Before returning home for the Christmas holiday, Rounds met with several key stakeholders, including:

·        Daktronics Leadership: Brad Wiemann (Interim CEO) and Matt Kurtenbach (VP of Manufacturing) from Brookings.

·        National Security Officials: General Ingo Gerhartz of NATO and Under Secretary for Science Dario Gill of the Department of Energy.

·        Economic Briefings: Meetings with Kevin Hassett of the National Economic Council and the Board of Directors of the Bank Policy Institute.

Rounds also attended five security briefings, including sessions with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a classified briefing from the Secretaries of State and Defense.

“I’m now back home in South Dakota to celebrate Christmas with my family,” Rounds said, noting he logged over 61,000 steps during the final busy week of the legislative session.