WASHINGTON, D.C.(KXLG) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, released the following statement on the committee’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. This is the 11th NDAA that Rounds has helped author as a member of SASC. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Watertown will see some of the approved funding.
Senator Rounds highlighted his strong commitment to supporting U.S. service members. He explained that the current National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is designed to keep the United States ahead of potential adversaries, ensuring that the men and women in uniform have the necessary resources and capabilities. In his words, the NDAA not only maintains our strategic advantage but also takes care of those who daily risk their lives to defend our freedoms.
Rounds’ South Dakota Victories:
- Fully authorizes the B-21 Raider program, including over $2.59 billion for procurement and $862 million in advanced procurement.
- Authorizes $378 million in military construction projects to support the B-21 Raider housed at Ellsworth.
- $63 million for B-21 Flight Simulator 2.
- $71 million for B-21 Alert Facility.
- $75 million for B-21 Environmental Protection Shelters.
- $88 million for B-21 South Environmental Protection Shelters.
- $81 million for B-21 West Alert Apron & Environmental Protection Shelters.
- Authorizes $28 million for Watertown Army National Guard Vehicle Maintenance Shop.
- Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Defense (DOD) to partner with communities, universities, and industry to establish Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF). This has been a major priority for many South Dakota universities and defense companies seeking to establish or deepen their relationship with the DOD.
- Updates the State Partnership Program so that states with only one partner are given priority when a new foreign partner is being considered for the program. This will directly benefit the South Dakota National Guard.
- Modifies the Defense Community Infrastructure Program in order to make South Dakota schools more competitive in receiving grants.
- Requires the Navy Personnel Command’s Records Analysis Branch to develop a plan to address their delays and backlogs to provide members of Congress and their constituents answers and corrections to casework, record requests, and record adjudication. This will help our South Dakotan veterans dealing with frustrating bureaucracy.